EMPHASIS ON PREVENTION/ACCESS TO PREVENTION AND WELLNESS
Goal: Reduce Illness, Disability and Death Related to Tobacco Use and Second Hand Smoke
Exposure
S
moking is the leading cause of
preventable death worldwide. To
address it, the Health Department
focuses on both prevention and
cessation initiatives. As part of its
cessation initiatives, a Certified Tobacco
Treatment Specialist (CTTS) is available to
counsel clients on quitting their tobacco
use.
Clients have the opportunity to be
counseled in a one-on-one, group or
telephone setting. Those enrolled in
counseling are eligible to receive
discounted Nicotine Replacement
Therapy (NRT).
Quitting tobacco use is one of the most
important health decisions an individual
can make. Research shows that
behavioral support during the quit
process, in combination with cessation
medication/NRT, increases an individual’s
chances of quitting and staying quit. In
2015, more than 40% of the 85 cessation
clients reduced or quit their tobacco use.
A patient breathes into a smokerlyzer to measure
the carbon monoxide level in her blood.
One client entered the program smoking 50 cigarettes per day (2.5 packs) and after cutting down, was able to quit
completely. The Health Department’s cessation support is available to all patients.
In addition to direct cessation services, research shows that anti-tobacco policies and procedures also act as cessation
and prevention best practices. The Health Department works with landlords of multi-unit housing entities to
encourage them to make their units smoke-free. Through a partnership with the Lake County Property Investors
Association that began in 2013, 15 multi-unit buildings have gone smoke-free, of which three went smoke-free in
2015.
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