Cherokee Nation Sponsoring Tobacco Cessation Events; Chief Declares Smoke-out Day
Cherokee Nation employees gather to beginning planning for the 2009 Great American Smoke-out Day in the Cherokee Nation. Pictured are: Lu McCraw, Ken Allen, Cora Lathrop, Lela Ummerteskee, Charlie Stilwell and Gary Vann.TAHLEQUAH, Okla.— In an effort to keep individuals, their families and their communities healthy, Thursday, November 19, has been designated as Great American Smoke-out Day in the Cherokee Nation. In honor of the event, the tribe is offering classes and incentives to help smokers and tobacco users stop for at least one day.
“Our goal is for our citizens, our families and our communities to be healthy and happy,” said Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. “A significant number of those who give up tobacco for only one day are able to stop its use entirely. This success shows the potential this one day has for improving the health of our citizens and the other residents who live here.”
According to the U.S. Surgeon General, smoking remains the single most preventable cause of premature death in our society. After only 12 hours of stopping smoking, the body’s carbon monoxide level drops to normal and in only 24 hours the chance of a heart attack decreases. Some studies have also linked negative health effects to those who, though they do not smoke, have been exposed to “second hand” tobacco smoke for long periods of time.
An individual who stops smoking and using tobacco will increase their overall health, and it will also increase your bank account. If a person smokes one pack of cigarettes per day at $4.00 per pack, the family will increase their household income by $1460 over the course of the year. Over a thirty year smoking history that’s a full $43,800, the cost of a new luxury car.
Ken Allen, Information Systems Resources Technician for the Cherokee Nation, understands that savings very well. Over the course of a couple of years, Allen was able to save enough money from not smoking to have a down payment for a house.
“I was a smoker and one Saturday night, I ran out of cigarettes. On my way home I stopped by the store but realized I didn’t have any money. The next day was Sunday, so I didn’t buy any that day either,” Allen said. “On the following Tuesday, I got one from a friend and that was the last cigarette I smoked. That was 37 years ago.”
Cora Lathrop, Mortgage Officer for the Cherokee Nation, said she, too, was able to save money from not smoking and celebrated with a special trip.
“After three years of stopping smoking, I saved enough money to take a land and cruise trip to Alaska,” Lathrop said. “The trip was worth not smoking.”
Cherokee Nation Healthy Nation will be celebrating the day by offering free cessation kits and other prizes to all who commit to stop smoking and using tobacco for at least one day. Resources and educational materials on how to stay smoke and tobacco free and sign ups for free cessation classes will be available at several locations in and around the Tahlequah area between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. on that day. Those interested can sign up at Cherokee Nation W.W. Hastings Hospital, Cherokee Casino Tahlequah, Cherokee Casino Fort Gibson, Tahlequah City Hospital, NEO Health in Hulbert and at the Northeastern State University Center in Tahlequah.
Classes and incentives are free and available to anyone. You do not have to be a Cherokee Nation citizen or Native American to attend. For more information or to sign up for a class, contact Lu McCraw at (918) 453-5260 or Carol Choate at (918) 931-8161.