Smoking Cessation Class

EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska--Jenni Osborne, 354th Medical Operations Squadron health education program manager, listens to class participants explain their smoking habits and why they want to quit during a smoking cessation class June 13 at the Health and Wellness Center. Cigarette smoking kills nearly 430,000 people a year, making it more lethal than AIDS, automobile accidents, homicides, suicides, drug overdoses and fires combined. Smoking reduces one's life expectancy by 15 to 25 years and is the single most preventable cause of death. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Tia Schroeder)

Eielson residents can kick butt, have healthy lungs

Published June 19, 2007
By Airman 1st Class Nora Anton
354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- Did you know that as of May 31, 30 percent of Eielson residents smoke cigarettes? That's higher than the PACAF, Air Force and National average of smokers.

Luckily, Icemen have a way out--a program the Health and Wellness Center offers, and has an 18-percent success rate--and climbing.

"The smoking cessation class is a three-class program developed by the American Cancer Society," said Jenni Osborne, 354th Medical Operations Squadron health education program manager.

Ms. Osborne said the class is designed to help smokers quit by providing participants with all of the essential information and strategies needed to direct their own efforts with quitting.

Once enrolled, the smoker will take three classes, each an hour in length and once a week for three weeks, they will learn the harms of smoking, receive a prescription to help curb nicotine cravings, and council with peers.

"The average spit tobacco for the Air Force is 4.4 percent," said Ms. Osborne, "but Eielson has the dubious honor of doubling that statistic, making us the top Air Force base for spit tobacco--Southern states come in second to us."

Cigarette smoking kills nearly 430,000 people a year, making it more lethal than AIDS, automobile accidents, homicides, suicides, drug overdoses and fires combined. Smoking reduces one's life expectancy by 15 to 25 years and is the single most preventable cause of death, said a 2001 report on smoking. The effects of cigarette smoke are not limited to your lungs, but effect every part of your body and body functions negatively.

Not only Eielson has recognized smoking as a problem, and many other bases are taking steps to reduce smoking-related illnesses.

"Many Air Force bases around the world are making more facilities tobacco free," said Ms. Osborne. "Some even have a 'no tobacco in uniform' policy--but it's not restricted to just smoking, it means all tobacco."

To sign up for the smoking cessation class, contact the HAWC and request to attend, 377-6662.