Warren takes fresh start at tobacco cessation

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Alex Martinez
  • 90th Space Wing Public Affairs
F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo. --  "When you see people at the BX, in the missile fields or anywhere on base, you'll know we have a smoking problem," said Jo Hamsher, health and wellness center education program manager. 

When it comes to comparing Warren's statistics with Air Force Space Command and even the Air Force, Mrs. Hamsher is correct. Recent data suggests 27.7 percent of active-duty Airmen here use some form of tobacco compared to 21 percent in AFSPC and 25 percent in the Air Force. 

Although Warren's above average tobacco use is alarming, Mrs. Hamsher, the HAWC, base leadership and the Air Force know fighting tobacco use is certainly a beatable battle, and are taking measures that will hopefully be the winning strategy. 

Starting this month, Warren will begin using an American Cancer Society program, Freshstart, which was created to help tobacco users curb their addiction. The new program separates itself from other tobacco quitting programs by focusing on "you," or the smoker, by giving much of the responsibility to the smoker in order to present them with what it takes to quit, and to help them mentally and physically deal with the quitting process. 

"It's a very effective program," said Mrs. Hamsher. "The fact that it will be used across the Air Force helps with consistency if someone transfers to another base." 

The program is designed to help smokers quit within two weeks, however, it emphasizes that there are two parts to quitting; Stopping smoking and staying stopped. The first Freshstart tobacco cessation class session is Thursday at the HAWC. 

The entire Air Force must begin using the program by October. 

In addition to the Freshstart program, Warren has implemented a poster campaign in order to further inform tobacco users on the risks of using tobacco and the benefits of quitting. The posters will be displayed around base in high volume areas. 

Another resource is the new DoD website, http://www.ucanquit2.org, which offers resources for tobacco users such as interactive games, a "My Quit Plan" feature allowing tobacco users to map their method of quitting, and facts on tobacco and quitting use. 

Finally, the Warren Base Clinic is only one in a handful of Air Force clinics to offer the medication Chantix, a medication designed to help smokers who have tried other methods of quitting with no success. A six-month observation has shown a 70 percent quit rate among users. 

"Even if we only see a 1 percent decrease in tobacco use, that's about 8 people," said Mrs. Hamsher. "Even the smallest decrease will help significantly. We want to see you quit." 

For more information on any of the programs mentioned or for additional information, call the HAWC at 773-4292.