Be a quitter! The HAWC can help

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Nora Anton
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  Tobacco users finding the trials of quitting their habits overbearing can find support and guidance from the Health and Wellness Center's tobacco cessation class in time for the nation's Great American Smoke Out Nov. 20.

Whether it's for better health, being a role model or a myriad of other good reasons to quit tobacco use, Icemen from all different career fields and walks of life are coming to the HAWC for the same cause.

"The active duty population at Eielson has seen a 2.2 percent decrease in tobacco use over the past year," said Jenni Osborne, HAWC program manager. "That may not seem like a lot ... but we are above average compared to the same survey done on the Pacific Air Force and Air Force levels."

Mrs. Osborne said the number one reason people come in to quit their tobacco use is for better health, "Some have already been diagnosed with lung problems and want to delay any worse symptoms."

The class consists of weekly meetings that span across a month's time. In the meetings class members will discuss different triggers of tobacco cravings, the hazards of continued use and brainstorm ways to forget their cravings. Mrs. Osborne is also authorized to prescribe different medications that assist with quitting tobacco, such as Zyban and Chantix.

Current members of the class share reasons for quitting smoking during meetings.

"My wife is pregnant and I don't want to wind up with cancer," said current tobacco cessation class member, Senior Airman Levi Blair, 354th Operations Support Squadron aircrew flight equipment apprentice. "I want to be there for my children their whole lives and I don't want my children to grow up using it."

Airman Blair has been using chewing tobacco for the past five years.

"It's really hard to quit especially if you like doing it," he said. "It sounds dumb but sometimes it's just something to do."

Sometimes it's hard to quit when your peers are also tobacco users, said Mrs. Osborne during a TC meeting. One thing Airman Blair is doing is bringing in his coworkers that he would normally take "chew" breaks with and help them quit as well.

Senior Airman Brandon Avey, a fellow aircrew flight equipment apprentice, came in with his friend to try to curb his six-year habit of chewing tobacco.

"I have a daughter to think about," said Airman Avey. "Not only can smoking decrease my life span, but hers as well. That's not something I want to be responsible for."