Two months ago I offered to buy some very important turkey lunches.
Since this week marks the 37th anniversary of the American Cancer Society's Great American Smokeout, I wanted to remind everyone of the offer.
If you are an OHA employee who used tobacco this year, and have been tobacco-free for at least three months by April 1, 2013, I will buy you a turkey lunch. Just send me a note and let me know.
Reducing tobacco use is so important. This deadly addiction costs our families, our friends and our state in illness, lost productivity and early death. In fact, direct medical costs and early death due to smoking or tobacco use costs Oregon more than $2 billion every year. Our state simply can’t afford tobacco. As a former smoker, though, I know just how hard it is to quit.
That's why we offer help to people who are ready to take that important step. People who take advantage of help in quitting tobacco are twice as likely to be successful. For state employees, Quit for Life® is a proven tobacco cessation program that offers:
- Unlimited online and phone support,
- Nicotine replacement therapy (patch or gum),
- Prescription medications that help with quitting.
It’s a covered benefit in your PEBB health plan for you, your spouse/partner, and your dependents age 18 and older. Call 1-866-QUIT-4-LIFE (784-8454).
For those who want to quit, but are not covered by PEBB, the Oregon Tobacco Quit Line offers telephone coaching, online counseling and patches or gum. Call 1-800-QUITNOW or go to Smoke Free Oregon for more information.
Another reason to quit soon is that beginning Jan. 1, 2013, all state properties will be phasing in tobacco-free campuses and properties. Tobacco-free campuses and properties, such as Tobacco-free DHS and OHA and the upcoming Tobacco-free State Properties initiative, make it easier for smokers and tobacco users to quit, and, for those who have already quit, to stay off tobacco. Learn more about Tobacco-free State Properties.
Make today the day you decide to quit for good and lunch is on me.
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