Cayuga Community Health Network |Tobacco Free Partnership

Watch our “No Thanks, Big Tobacco” video. This video is collaboration between Cayuga and Onondaga Counties. Listen to local business people talk about why they signed a policy stating they have chosen not to accept tobacco company advertising, sponsorship or promotional dollars.
After viewing the video, we hope that you think about becoming a part of the growing list of organizations and businesses that have signed on to take a stand with us, against big tobacco!. Watch Video...

Steps to Smoke-Free Housing in New York
Even though there is no law to prevent smoking in a private home, one can still find ways to protect oneself from unwanted secondhand smoke, especially if one is a renter. Read more....

The “No Thanks, Big Tobacco” campaign is on going across New York State. Our plan is to bring attention to the fact that tobacco companies have, and continue to try to influence the community through sponsorship of public events and charitable giving. We ask the public to weigh the benefits of Tobacco Company giving vs. community beliefs. Read more.... image of smoking dog

Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death and disease in the United States. There are over 440,000 premature deaths each year due to smoking related illnesses. That is approximately 1,200 deaths every day. Smoking related illnesses kill more people each year than alcohol, illegal drug use, car crashes, AIDS murder and suicide combined.

When you stop smoking, your body starts to heal itself!

This is what happens:

20 minutes after you quit -Your heart rate drops
12 hours after you quit -Carbon monoxide levels in your body returns to normal
1 to 9 months after you quit -Your coughing and shortness of breath decrease
1 year after you quit -Your added risk of heart disease is half that of a smokers
10 years after you quit -Your lung cancer death rate is half that of a smoker's

(Above information from the Centers for Disease Control)

Trying to Quit Smoking?

The first thing you need to do is set a Quit Day. Then take it step by step. Here are some things to think about doing:

Make a list of reasons to quit.
Review that list each night.
Call the NYS Smokers' Quitline - 1-866-697-8487 or 1-866-NY-QUITS
Get rid of the cigarettes and ashtrays.
Have a plan to deal with stress.
Find out what triggers you to have a cigarette.
Have ap lan to avoid triggers.
Ask for help from family, friends and your doctor.
Drink lots of water to help fight cravings.
Don't be hard on yourself, take it day by day!

Up In Smoke?
It is very hard to quit smoking, but it can be done. If you have been smoking for years, it is going to take a while to break your smoking habit because you have become dependent on the nicotine in the cigarettes you smoke. Smoking is something you have done to celebrate good times and mark the bad times. You thought cigarettes were your friend, but now you're not so sure and you are thinking of quitting.

Think about this:

What are your motivations for smoking?
What are your motivations for quitting?
Make a list of these things and look it over.
Relationships are give and take.
What are you getting?
What are you paying out?

Helpful Links:

New York State Smokers' Quitline

Quitnet-A program from Boston University

American Lung Association

American Cancer Society

A quit site with lots of information and a forum

Information from the mayo Clinic

Clean Indoor Air Act Violation forms and Smokers' Quitline Services are available at:

Tobacco-Free Resources

American Legacy Foundation

NY Smoke Free: Central Region

Youth Links

Youth organization exposing the tobacco industries lies.

http://www.realitycheckny.org/

A public health foundation addressing the health effects of tobacco use.

http://www.americanlegacy.org/

Not just for kids, loaded with info and stats.

http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/

Community Wide Survey

In June 2006, a community wide survey was conducted in Cayuga County. This survey details the opinions and perceptions local residents have toward tobacco use, tobacco marketing and the dangers of tobacco...