Helping hands: CHER offers help for quitting smoking

Thu., Nov. 2, 2006

By Lisa Leinberger lisal@spokesman.com (509) 459-5449

Name of program: Tobacco Cessation Program

What it does: The Community Health Education and Resource office provides this six-week program for anyone wishing to quit smoking.

Emily Fleury, the health education coordinator at the CHER office, said the Freedom from Smoking classes discuss behavior changes and ideas to use at home and work. It talks about reasons why people smoke.

Fleury said quitting is different for every person who comes to the program.

“It’s such a personal thing,” she said.

The first two weeks of the program prepare the students for quitting. They discuss changes the students must make at home or work, plus ideas to help the quitter’s family prepare for the changes.

The third week of the program includes quit night. Students will get a Quit Kit as well as ideas for items to personalize those kits. Two days later, the class will meet again.

The last two weeks of the class discuss maintaining a tobacco-free lifestyle.

At the end of the program, the students will get a $15 gift card as a little extra incentive.

One of the important aspects of the program is the support everyone gets from the others in the class. It also talks about staying positive, what works and what doesn’t work.

The cost of the program is $20.

Who runs it: The Community Health Education and Resource office is part of Inland Northwest Health Services. The CHER office works closely with the American Lung Association and the Spokane Regional Health District.

How to get help: Anyone wishing to quit smoking may call the CHER office at 232-8138. The office will help potential quitters find a class that is near them and at a convenient time.

Typical client: Fleury said the typical client is around 45 to 50 years old, although the program is working hard to register pregnant women.

Pregnant women who attend get the class fee waived.

People who attend the classes tend to be a good sampling of people, though.

“We get everybody,” Fleury added.

How to give help: Donations may be made specifically to the Tobacco Cessation Program through the Inland Northwest Health Services Foundation at 473-6099.

The program also takes volunteers who would like to join the Tobacco Free Coalition. Volunteers hand out Quit Kits and attend rallies.

Many times, people come to the classes to tell their own story about quitting.

“There are a lot of things people can do to help,” Fleury said.

Anyone interested in helping may call the CHER office.

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