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DICKINSON — Despite declining tobacco use rates in North Dakota, 17% of adults in the state still smoke. According to the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, smoking causes 1,000 deaths each year in the state, and contributes to about $326 million in annual healthcare. Tobacco use is still a problem in North Dakota. Southwestern District Health Unit Tobacco Free North Dakota, and NDQuits are committed to reducing the toll tobacco has on North Dakotans by kicking of a week-long awareness campaign.
Partners from Tobacco Free North Dakota and North Dakota local public health units are joining forces for "It’s Quitting Time" to use this week to encourage all cigarette, smokeless tobacco and e-cigarette or vape product users in North Dakota to set a quit date.
According to a press release, this week-long awareness campaign brings attention to the dangers of commercial tobacco and nicotine dependence while encouraging users to seek help quitting from a healthcare provider, pharmacist, NDQuits or Southwestern District Health Unit in Dickinson. These entities can help develop a quit plan and provide tools and resources to greatly improve a tobacco user’s odds at success. Southwestern District Health Unit and NDQuits provide additional support in the form of personal coaching and nicotine replacement therapy medication. Free nicotine patches, nicotine gum or nicotine lozenges are provided to qualified enrollees.
Tobacco and e-cigarette use is associated with several health risks including many types of cancers, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and respiratory illnesses such as COPD and COVID-19. E-cigarette use is also linked to E-cigarette or Vaping Product Use-Associated Lung Injury (EVALI) — a serious respiratory illness that could be severe and life-threatening.
“Without help, many tobacco and nicotine users are not always successful in quitting,” said Tobacco Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Schaeffer with Southwestern District Health Unit. “There are resources available at Southwestern District Health Unit to make the process less stressful and more successful.”
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To learn about resources available to quit tobacco and nicotine, contact Southwestern District Health Unit at 701-483-3760 or NDQuits | Department of Health.
