[Written by Erin Sinisgalli, Director of Community Health Programs, St. Peter’s Health Partners.]
As 2023 draws to a close and 2024 beckons, a lot of people’s thoughts naturally turn to New Year’s goals and resolutions. If quitting smoking or vaping is on your to-do list for 2024, The Butt Stops Here can help!
Both vaping and smoking traditional cigarettes expose you to nicotine, an addictive drug, as well as heavy metals and cancer-causing chemicals that can permanently damage your lungs and other organs.
While the percentage of people addicted to cigarettes has gone down, vaping addictions have dramatically risen, especially in our vulnerable youth population. And young people are particularly susceptible to nicotine addiction.
Nicotine can be neurotoxic to a developing brain. Most lifelong smokers start as teenagers and struggle long and hard to stop as adults. Flavored vape products are an added attraction to kids who like the buzz they get, but without the harshness of a traditional cigarette.
Smoking is incredibly addictive, but there are proven, effective methods of breaking the deadly habit. These include:
- Consulting and receiving support from your physician. Research shows that support from health care providers can increase the success rate by 30 percent.
- Using some type of nicotine replacement therapy or other pharmacology.
- Attending a smoking cessation program, such as The Butt Stops Here.
The benefits of quitting are substantial at any age. Further, quitting is not only good for you, it also benefits your loved ones. That includes pets who can develop serious health conditions when exposed over time to second-hand smoke.
Ready for a big life change? You are not alone. Get the help you need to make 2024 a year to remember!
For information and support, including free nicotine replacement products such as patches or gum, call the NYS Smokers Quitline toll-free at 1-866-NY-QUITS (1-866-697-8487).
The Butt Stops Here is a virtual smoking cessation program offered by St. Peter’s Health Partners that has helped thousands of smokers in the greater Capital Region quit – and stay quit. The free program, which combines group support and education, consists of seven one-hour sessions with a trained facilitator.
Our next session begins Thursday, Jan. 18, at 7 p.m. To learn more and to register, visit sphp.com/quitsmoking.
