Tennessee Quit Week Encourages Residents To Break Up With Tobacco

Local drug prevention coalitions encourage residents to break up with tobacco during this week’s Tennessee Quit Week.

Power of Putnam grant coordinator Sarah Blessing said ending the toxic relationship with tobacco can benefit you and others.

“There are facts about tobacco and how it affects you,” Blessing said. “It causes heart diseases, various cancers, and lung disease. Also, children that are exposed to second hand smoke are more likely to get pneumonia, earaches, and bronchitis.”

The fourth annual Tennessee Quit Week seeks to raise awareness of the state’s Tobacco QuitLine and other resources available to help kick the habit.

“The impacts of tobacco and nicotine addiction in Tennessee go beyond the damage done to the health, quality of life and incomes of people using these products, most of whom got addicted as youth,” Tennessee Department of Health Commissioner John Dreyzehner said. “We want to increase our partnerships across the public and private sectors to educate people on the harms of tobacco use and how we can work together to help people improve their health and their lives by beating nicotine addiction.”

Blessing said Power of Putnam normally refers people to the local Quit 4 Life class at Cookeville Regional Medical Center.

“I know there are a lot of youths going through the class nowadays,” Blessing said. “They are getting caught at school and are made to go to the classes.”

Youth smoking cessation classes begin at 5:00 p.m. and the adult classes begin at 6:00 p.m every Thursday.