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Community
Cessation Initiative Aims to Reduce Smoking in Lucas County
Special to The Truth
According to the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), tobacco use
remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and
death. One in every seven (14 percent) Lucas County adults
are smokers. The diseases caused due to tobacco use include:
cancer, heart disease, COPD, and many other chronic
illnesses. If someone is able to quit smoking, they greatly
reduce their chance of being diagnosed with a deadly disease
later in life.
The Toledo-Lucas County
Health Department has launched the Community Cessation
Initiative (CCI), funded by the Ohio Department of Health,
aimed to help individuals quit tobacco use in Lucas County
and surrounding areas.
Lucas County reported in
2017, 17 percent of the African-American population and 24
percent of adults with an annual income less than $25,000
were smokers. The CCI program offers access to free tobacco
cessation services to help residents in Lucas County quit
using tobacco products. By partnering with non-profits,
organizations and hospitals in Lucas County, CCI has created
a network of providers
dedicated to offering high quality tobacco cessation
services.
Health Educators with CCI
help determine what type of cessation services best fit the
individual’s needs. Cessation partners may provide
individual, group, and telephonic counseling at a large
variety of locations across the county. Health Educators
will also guide the journey to quit tobacco use and provide
relapse management at no cost.
Both Spanish and Arabic
translators are available for assistance, if necessary. The
benefits of quitting smoking are invaluable and include
saving money, immediate health improvements, and the
happiness of loved ones who are able to see healthy choices
being made. If you, a family member or friend are ready to
quit using tobacco products, help is available.
The Community Cessation
Initiative is interested in adding both providers and
referral partners, including medical professionals,
community health workers, faith based organizations, social
services, or any agencies providing to Lucas County
residents.
Referral partners connect
individuals who are ready to quit smoking to the CCI
network. Provider partners perform cessation services, [so
long as they meet program guidelines set by the Ohio
Department of Health.] Agencies interested may contact
Mahjida Steffin, Tobacco Cessation Acting Program
Coordinator and Health Educator, at 419-213-4792 or
steffinm@co.lucas.oh.us.
Call the Toledo-Lucas
County Health Department at 419-213-4558 or e-mail
tobaccofree@co.lucas.oh.us to start your journey to a
healthier, tobacco free lifestyle!
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