FHS Nurse Margie Piersall can think of more than a few reasons to quit smoking — 43 of them, to be exact. That’s how many carcinogens are in one cigarette, but this apparently doesn’t detour 48 million Americans — or about 25% of our society — from smoking, according to a poll by the American Cancer Society. “It’s the number one killer in the U.S. that can easily be prevented,” said Piersall. “The only reason they don’t quit, is because they don’t have motivation.” About 19 percent of all the deaths in the United States are tobacco-related due to the carcinogens (cancer-causing substances) in tobacco smoke. Now, Piersall, along with Chuck Wood, Western Montana Deputy Director of the American Cancer Society, and Jeanie McFarland, a trained volunteer for the A.C.S., and the CARE organization, are joining together to get teens who do smoke to cut down or even quit. The “Smart Moves” program, beginning in March, one day a week for seven weeks, will educate the participants about the different types of tobacco and the effects of using them. “The main focus isn’t to get teens to stop smoking,” said McFarland. “but to get them to cut down and let them learn more about what tobacco is really doing to their bodies.” Piersall doesn’t think that there will be a significant change in the number of students who use tobacco. If the students have enough personal motivation and persevere and find a way to quit, that may be even better than quitting through a formal program. “Whatever the students are comfortable with,” said Piersall According to Piersall, there haven’t t been any students enrolled in the “Smart Moves” yet, but she isn’t discouraged. Said Piersall: “If the students find a way to quit or cut down, I’m happy for them. Whatever works best for them.” |
