Kick the butts

MAT-SU — If you are like many people across the nation, one of your New Year’s resolutions may have been to quit smoking.

If that’s a goal, some Mat-Su Valley resources may be able to help you kick the habit for good. The Tobacco Prevention & Control Program and Breathe Free Mat-Su under the Alaska Family Services agency are working to help Valley residents stop smoking.

“I think the biggest thing in quitting smoking or using tobacco products in general is that it takes practice. Stopping smoking can take up to 10 attempts to quit before it actually catches on,” said Becky Stoppa, program coordinator for the Tobacco Prevention and Control Program. “What we do is recommend programs, informational packets, gum and stress toys to help to quit and make it easier.”

But Stoppa quickly notes that the best way to stop smoking is to never start.

“We would prefer if kids and adults never started smoking, and thus we try to prevent them starting rather than weaning them off of tobacco.”

She adds that Alaska has great programs to help tobacco users quit.

“Alaska’s Tobacco Quit Line provided by the Alaska Tobacco Control Alliance is great resource and they deliver eight weeks of nicotine replacement like patches or gum and then tailor programs to an individuals needs. Both services are completely free and they have 42 percent success rate.”

These specialized programs made for an individual include tips like talking to your doctor about stopping, changing your smoking habits like your smoking location, when you smoke and examining why you smoke.

A former smoker for 30 years, Randy Jones agrees that these are the best ways to try and stop.

“Well I remember starting in junior high and high school because it was cool,” he says chuckling. “But after 30 years and my wife and kids harassing me I decided it was time.” After trying to quit five years before, Jones said the trick this time was using CHANTIX, a prescription drug, to help him stop.

“With CHANTIX you start taking the medicine while you are still smoking and what it does is block the nicotine receptors in your brain. After a while smoking on the medicine makes you feel not so great so eventually you stop smoking,” Jones said.

Jones still remembers his last cigarette.

“I started using the medicine on December 9th and the last one I had was December 21st of 2008. But I also had to change my habits as well. I stopped smoking in the car and made myself go outside to the garage to smoke. And I am so glad I did.”

If interested in quitting call Alaska’s Tobacco Quit Line at 888-842-7848.