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Tobacco

What Is In Tobacco?

Dried tobacco leaves and ingredients added for flavor. More than 4,000 individual compunds have been identified in tobacco and tobacco smoke, and around 43 of these are carcinogens.

Is Tobacco Addictive?

In 1988, the US Surgeon General concluded the following:

  • Nicotine is the drug in tobacco that causes addiction. Cigarettes and other forms of tobacco are addicting.
  • The pharmacologic and behavior processes that determine tobacco addiction are similar to those that determine addiction to drugs such as heroin and cocaine.

What Are The Health Risks?

  • Smoking is a major cause of heart disease, bronchitis, emphysema, and stroke and contributes to the severity of cold and pneumonia.
  • Cigarette smoking is a major cause of cancers of the lung larynx, oral cavity, pharynx, and esophagus.
  • Tobacco is a known or probable cause of some 25 different diseases.
  • About 87 percent of lung cancer deaths are caused by smoking.
  • One out of every two long-term smokers will ultimately be killed by tobacco
  • From 1950 to 200, tobacco will have killed more than 60 million people in developed countries alone, more than in World War II
  • Smoking kills more people than AIDS, alcohol, cocaine, homicide, suicide and motor vehicle crahses combined

Why Should I Quit?

  • People who quit, regardless of age, live longer than people who continue to smoke.
  • Smokers who quit before age 50 have half the risk of those who continue to smoke of dying in the next 15 years
  • Quitting substantially decreases the risk of cancer of the lung, larynx, pharynx, esophagus, mouth, pancreas, bladder, and cervix.
  • Benefits of cessation include risk of reduction for other major diseases including coronary heart disease, lung disease, and cardiovascular disease.

How Does Tobacco Affect Babies?

  • Maternal smoking is associated with a higher risk of miscarriage, lower birth weight of babies and inhibited child development
  • Parental smoking is a factor in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and is associated with higher rates of respiratory illnesses, including bronchitis, colds and pneumonia in children.
  • Children with parent who smoke are more likely to smoke than children with parents who abstain from tobacco.

Are you Thinking About Quitting Smoking or Chewing Tobacco? There is Help!

Gunnison County Tobacoo Cessation Resource List

Information and Support

  • Gunnison County Tobacco Education and Prevention Program offering: resource list, Quitkits and tobacco educational materials. 970-641-0209.
  • Gunnison Valley Hospital 970-641-1456
  • Western State College Health Center 970-943-2707
  • Gunnison Family Medical Center 970-641-1771
  • www.coquitline.org; free online support and information.

Counseling and Coaching

  • Cindy Smock - Black Canyon Counseling 970-641-5119
  • Marcie Telander - East River Counseling 970-252-7803 or 970-349-6509
  • Midwestern Colorado Mental Health Center 970-349-5344
  • QuitLine: 1-800-QUIT-NOW; Free telephone coaching and Nicotine Replacement Therapy.

Nicotine Replacement & Medication (patches, gum, Zyban, Chantix)

  • Gunnison Family Medical Center 970-641-1771
  • Western State College Health Center 970-943-2707
  • QuitLine; 1-800-QUIT-NOW. When you sign up for the counseling with QuitLine, they give you free patches.
  • Gunnison Vitamin & Health Food Store sells non-tobacco alternatives

Acupuncture (They offer special techniques to help with tobacco addiction)

  • Karen Adelman 970-349-9886
  • Jessica Tullius 970-641-6095
  • Stacy Stark 970-209-8310

 

This is not a complete list. For a more complete list of resources, please call Margaret Wacker at Gunnison County Tobacco Education and Prevention Program at Public Health, 970-641-0209 or check the local listings in the phone book.

 

 

Current Events and News

**FLU SHOTS**

~Every Tuesday Public Health gives vaccines  by appointments only~

~City Market Flu Shots are available anytime for $25~ 

*GARDASIL IS NOW APPROVED FOR MALES*

!!!!!HPV Vaccination for $14 per Dose!!!!!!

Gunnison County Public Health received a grant to give 100 Doses of HPV VACCINATIONS to Women aged 19-26 for $10 per dose until May 1st. After that it will cost $14 per dose. HPV is a 3 series vaccination

Normally this vaccination would cost $200 per dose at your physicians office - What a GREAT Deal

Call Public Health - First Come, First Serve - To get your vaccination. These shots can prevent Cervial Cancer!!!!!

Call 970-641-7990

SEASONAL FLU SHOTS NOW AVAILABLE AT GUNNISON CITY MARKET

Meningitis, HPV and Tetanus with Pertussis Shots are now available at Gunnison Public Health

 Menactra- the meningitis shot.  Public Health has received a onetime shipment of this vaccine to be used for anyone over 18 years old, such as college students--cost $14.

HPV- This vaccine prevents Human Papilomavirus infection that is leading cause of cervical cancer.  Public Health has a limited supply of this vaccine that is available for patients 19-26 years old--cost $14.

Tdap- Tetanus with Pertussis (whooping cough).  This vaccine is always available at Public Health for all ages of the public who need it.  Current recommendation is one-time dose.  This is especially important with the rise in Pertussis cases, locally and nationally.  Cost $14. 

Call Gunnison Public Health for an appt 970-641-0209