By Angela Bereznak

Clark County Health Department

Each year, the World Health Organization holds World No Tobacco Day May 31.

The goal is to spread awareness of the risks of tobacco use and how we can make the world tobacco free. Roughly 6 million people die from tobacco-related ailments every year. And that number is projected to rise to over 8 million by 2030.

Smoking causes cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung diseases, diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

— More than 16 million Americans are living with a disease caused by smoking.

— On average, smokers die 10 years earlier than nonsmokers.

— Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death.

Secondhand smoke is also called environmental tobacco smoke.

Secondhand smoke is the smoke that comes from the cigarette enters the body of a non-smoker. Secondhand smoke is known to cause cancer.

It has more than 7,000 chemicals, including at least 70 that can cause cancer. It’s possibly linked in children to these health effects: lymphoma, leukemia, liver cancer and brain tumors.

The process of smoking does not last only while a cigarette is burning, it continues on through thirdhand smoke. Thirdhand Smoke is residual nicotine and other chemicals left on indoor surfaces by tobacco smoke.  When cigarette smoke is in the air, it does not disappear, it attaches to everything around it, such as clothing, furniture, interior of the car, walls, carpet, etc. People and animals breathe in the fumes and can experience health issues. The health effects of thirdhand smoke are still being researched.

The Clark County Health Department offers Freedom from Smoking classes through the American Lung Association.

The course lasts eight weeks and meets weekly. Participants will gain information about the benefits of stopping tobacco products, gain support and encouragement from classmates, learn stress management techniques, and learn about medications that can support them in quitting.

The next FFS course is June 11 to July 30 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at Clark County Pharmacy, 716 Boone Ave. The cost is $5.  Plan to attend every class.

The Kentucky Quit Now Helpline is also available at no cost. This service connects you to smoking cessation counselors. You can connect via telephone, text, and online. The contact number is: 1-800-784-8669.

Clark County Health Department provides programs for the entire family, including WIC, HANDS, family planning, well child care/immunizations, smoking cessation, and home health care.  For more information on all of our service, please call 859/744-4482 or visit our website at www.clarkhealthdept.org.  You can also “like” us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Clark-County-Health-Department.