Did you know that tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable illness and death? Yet people continue to use it. Each day about 2,200 adults age 18 or older begin smoking on a daily basis.

Why quit smoking?

Short-term benefits:

20 minutes after quitting your heart rate drops.
12 hours after quitting the carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.
2 weeks to 3 months after quitting your heart attack risk begins to drop and your lung function begins to improve.
1 to 9 months after quitting your coughing and shortness of breath decrease.

Long-term benefits:

1 year after quitting your risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker’s.
Your stroke risk is reduced to that of a non-smoker’s 5-15 years after quitting.
10 years after quitting your lung cancer death rate is about half that of a smokers and your risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas also decrease.
15 years after quitting your risk of coronary heart disease is back to that of a non-smoker’s.

Tobacco use is expensive!

On average, a pack of 20 cigarettes costs $6.20 and smokeless tobacco costs about $4.30. If you quit using tobacco think of the money you could be saving. Smoking one pack of cigarettes per week will amount to:

cigarette pricing

Using one package of smokeless tobacco per week will amount to:

smokeless tobacco pricing

Five ways to help a friend quit smoking

Quitting is different for each person who uses tobacco, so ask your friend what you can do that will be helpful.
Have confidence in your friend! Tell them that you think they can make it, even if they have tried before. Many smokers and users of other tobacco products try to quit several times before successfully quitting.
The first few days will be the hardest for your friend, so be available in case your friend wants to discuss what he/she is facing. Be ready to listen.
Let them know that you care about them (quit or not) and that you admire them for trying to quit. Nagging, preaching or hassling just doesn’t work…try not to do this!
Do things together. Go places where people can’t smoke or use other tobacco products.

Cessation resources

Because smoking is an addiction, quitting is often very difficult. Usually people make 2 or 3 tries, or more, before being able to quit for good. A number of treatments are available that can help. Visit these cessation resources for more information:

Other online resources:

Spark

Spark, formerly the Marquette University Tobacco Coalition, was founded in the 2008 fall semester by a Peer Health Educator and the Marquette University Medical Clinic (formerly Student Health Service and the Center for Health Education and Promotion). Spark’s charge is to collect and review data in support of a tobacco-free campus; propose changes to policies to support Marquette becoming a tobacco-free campus; implement an enforcement plan for current policies; educate about the risk associated with tobacco use; and educate about cessation services and resources on campus and in the community. The overall goal of Spark is to obtain BACCHUS Certification by becoming a tobacco-free campus and to promote students and staff living a tobacco-free lifestyle. Spark is made up of students, staff, and administration. Spark meetings are open to all members of the Marquette community.

For more information, visit Spark on Facebook.

TOBACCO