Great American Smokeout stop smoking kits available November 15th

(November 14, 2018, Salisbury, MD) – Every year on the third Thursday of November, the Great American Smokeout encourages people who smoke to stop using tobacco and learn about the many tools available to help them quit and stay quit. Smokers across the nation use the date as the start of a long-term quit attempt or to practice quitting.

The American Cancer Society started the Great American Smokeout in the 1970s. Each year, this event draws attention to the deaths and chronic diseases caused by smoking. Because of this and many other efforts in education and policy, the adult smoking rate in the United States has decreased from 15.5% in 2016 to 14.0 % in 2017 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

In celebration of the Great American Smokeout, the Wicomico County Health Department will offer stop smoking kits at the following Health Department locations in Salisbury, Maryland: 300 W. Main St. 801 N. Salisbury Blvd. Ste. 103, 705 N. Salisbury Blvd., and 108 E. Main St.

The Wicomico County Health Department offers stop smoking classes every Thursday at noon, offering free education and support. Participants are eligible to receive FREE quit smoking medications including nicotine replacement patches, nicotine lozenges, or Chantix. Anyone who lives or works in Wicomico County may participate. Confidential individual counseling is also available, including for pregnant women. Beginning December 6, 2018, classes will be held at a new location: 801 N. Salisbury Blvd.

Take advantage of trying to quit with thousands of others across the nation; pick up a stop smoking kit and quit for the day…it could be the first of many!

For more information about the Great American Smokeout or the stop smoking program, call (410) 334-3480 or visitwww.wicomicohealth.org.