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The American Lung Association (ALA) has an extensive stop-smoking campaign,
including resources on quitting for individuals and employers. Their Lung
HelpLine offers smokers the chance to talk with a nurse or respiratory
therapist about all aspects of lung health. They also sponsor "Not on Tobacco"
and "Freedom From Smoking," two tobacco support programs.
"Not on Tobacco" targets teens and aims to educate youth about the dangers
of smoking to keep teens from starting the habit in the first place. "Freedom
From Smoking" is a smoking cessation program that specifically targets adults.
Smokers can try the program for free, but there is a cost for premium membership.
The program prepares smokers to set a quit date and helps them follow through
with quitting and coping with a cigarette-free life.
THE FOUNDATION
FOR A SMOKEFREE AMERICA
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The grandson of tobacco giant R.J. Reynolds founded the Foundation
for a Smokefree America after seeing so many of his family members
battle smoking-related illnesses. Patrick Reynolds sold off his
stock in the tobacco company to launch the foundation in 1989.
Since then, he's spoken at middle schools, high schools and
universities, and he's even testified before Congress about
the dangers of tobacco use. The nonprofit's mission is to "motivate
youth to stay tobacco free, and to empower smokers to quit successfully."
The foundation works to educate current and potential smokers,
as well as physicians and policymakers, about the dangers of
smoking and smoking cessation techniques. They've also worked
on media campaigns, like public service announcements starring
celebrities aimed at preventing teens from picking up smoking.
The foundation even produced an educational video targeting sixth
through 12th graders called "The Truth About Tobacco."
MARYVILLE UNIVERSITY
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Maryville University of St. Louis is a
private university based in Town and Country, Missouri, United States.
It was originally founded in 1872 by the Society of the Sacred Heart
and offers more than 90 degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and
doctoral levels to students from 50 states and 47 countries.
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The tobacco industry uses fun flavors and tech devices to hook kids on
nicotine because young developing brains are easier to addict. Teens
are nearly 7x more likely to vape nicotine than adults.
COVID-19 UPDATE: Teens who vape could face higher risk of COVID-19
complications. Vaping can weaken lungs with toxic chemicals and fine
metal particles. Should a teen develop COVID-19, their lungs could
be at a disadvantage in fighting it off.
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Gummy bear, cotton candy, cherry crush, mango, and smooth menthol. We're not talking about candy. These are just some of the 15,000 flavors tobacco companies are pushing to hook our kids on their products - like e-cigarettes, cigars, and menthol cigarettes. Youth e-cigarette use has skyrocketed to what the Surgeon General and FDA have called "epidemic" levels.
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Please take time to tell state legislators to end the sale of all flavored tobacco products.
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NICOTINE ANONYMOUS
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While it's not directly associated with Alcoholics Anonymous,
Nicotine Anonymous applies that same 12-step approach to quitting
smoking. It's not a religious or government organization, and it's
free to join and attend meetings. Nicotine Anonymous holds
in-person meetings, as well as Internet and telephone meetings,
to help support smokers who want to quit. Via the group's online
search tool, smokers can find meetings in 46 states and in
Washington D.C., as well as 38 other countries. If there isn't
a meeting in your area, the organization also offers a "Meetings
Starter Kit" for smokers who want to start a Nicotine Anonymous
meeting in their area.
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