2025 is here and everyone is thinking about how to make it better than 2024 and accomplish some goals. For some, it is financial goals, for some career goals, and for many, it is health goals like losing weight or finally quitting smoking.
Suffolk County wants to help you stop smoking and it won’t cost you a cent. The program begins on January 9th. The county’s smoking cessation program is a seven-week course that uses a comprehensive approach to the treatment of tobacco product dependence. All cessation groups and programs are supervised by a nurse practitioner, and services are provided to residents at no cost.
Program participants also receive personalized follow-ups. Pre-registration is required. Registration remains open for each class until the second session. Contact: Debora at 631-853-2928 or Debora.rippel@suffolkcountyny.gov
The sessions will be held at: St. Charles Hospital, Wisdom Conference Center 200 Belle Terre Road, Port Jefferson. Dates are: January 9, 16, 23, 30 February 6, 13. Time: 6:00 – 7:15 PM
As soon as you quit, your body begins to repair the damage and continues to repair itself for many years. According to the American Lung Association:
20 Minutes After Quitting: Your heart rate drops to a normal level.
12 to 24 Hours After Quitting: The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal and The risk of heart attack is significantly reduced
2 Weeks to 3 Months After Quitting: Your risk of having a heart attack begins to drop and your lung function begins to improve.
1 to 9 Months After Quitting: Your coughing and shortness of breath decrease.
1 Year After Quitting: Your added risk of coronary heart disease is half that of someone who uses cigarettes or other tobacco products.
5 to 15 Years After Quitting: Your risk of having a stroke is reduced to that of a someone who does not smoke or use other tobacco products and your risk of getting cancer of the mouth, throat, or esophagus is cut in half.
10 Years After Quitting: Your risk of dying from lung or bladder cancer is cut in half and you risk of getting cervical cancer or cancer of the larynx, kidney or pancreas decreases.
15 Years After Quitting: Your risk of coronary heart disease is the same as that of someone who does not use cigarettes or other tobacco products.
The Suffolk County program will give you educational and behavioral strategies to help you develop a quit plan to eliminate the use of tobacco products or electronic nicotine delivery systems, also called ENDS. The program also provides over-the-counter medications for a fee to participants who are medically eligible.