The Great American Smoke Out; learn how the Veterans Affairs assists smokers in quitting.
The Whole Health program offers tools and resources for tobacco cessation, along with many other areas of health and well-being. The team can be reached by calling 828-298-7911 Ext. 12107.
Asheville, N.C.— The Great American Smoke Out takes place annually on the third Thursday of November and aims to encourage Americans to quit smoking tobacco. This year, the Western North Carolina VA Health Care System is using this event to raise awareness about the resources available to help veterans in their efforts to quit smoking.
“Quitting tobacco is one of the most important things a person can do to support their health and well-being. The Whole Health team want to not only highlight the importance of quitting, but also to equip Veterans with the tools and encouragement that make the journey more successful. Whole Health offers group cessation classes as well as one-on-one health and wellness coaching. Our goal is for Veterans to achieve their own vision of health to support what matters most to them,” said Jacqueline Burris, a program coordinator.
The Whole Health program offers tools and resources for tobacco cessation, along with many other areas of health and well-being. The team can be reached by calling 828-298-7911 Ext. 12107.
Veterans can also sign up for Smokefree VET to receive text messages for daily support. To enroll, text VET to 4784. Once registered, you will receive a welcome message with a link for more information about the program and additional prompts.
“We encourage our veterans who wish to live a smoke-free life to discuss with their VA medical provider the use of patches, gum, lozenges, in combination with medication assisted therapy,” said Dr. Ashfaq Ahsanuddin, the Chief of Staff of the WNCVAHCS. “Combining counseling with medication can enhance the chances of quitting tobacco by addressing both behaviors and the cravings linked to nicotine addiction.”
Recently, the WNCVAHCS organized a lung screening awareness day at the Charles George VA Medical Center to highlight the importance of lung cancer screening. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among veterans, and early detection through screening can be lifesaving.
The lung screening awareness day provided an opportunity to educate veterans about eligibility criteria for lung cancer screenings, discuss the risks associated with smoking, and assist qualifying veterans in scheduling low-dose CT screenings.
To learn more visit: https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/quit-tobacco/