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Tobacco-Free Living
Gobble, gobble, run,” said the turkey.
The annual Cold Turkey Trot was off to a brisk start at Defense Health Headquarters on November 17. The event was part of the Great American Smokeout, which encourages service members to quit tobacco use – one of the leading causes of preventable death. At least 30 participants either ran or walked the five-kilometer course to raise awareness for the cause and support peers.
“The Cold Turkey Trot is one of many efforts by the Defense Health Agency to bring attention to tobacco cessation,” said Paul Fitzpatrick, senior public affairs specialist at DHA. “We also support programs initiated by DoD and the services to make installations tobacco-free through www.ucanquit2.org.”
Air Force Lt. Col. William Malloy, military assistant to the deputy director of DHA, joined in on the fun and provided motivation to fellow participants by dressing as a turkey for the race. He has had many people in his life who have smoked or passed away from cancer and felt the event was an interesting way to offer support, he said.
“There are a lot of people in all of our lives who smoke and we need be encouraging to those people to help them quit,” said Malloy. “When you get the urge to smoke, the peer support will pull you away, which is nice.”
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, smoking is the leading cause of preventable death. In fact, almost a quarter of all service members still smoke cigarettes – compared to only 18 percent of civilians. With a goal to make installations tobacco-free by 2020, DHA encourages everyone to quit smoking. The Great American Smokeout is a campaign to encourage service members to quit smoking, even if it is only for the day, and be a part of a system of support.
“It’s important to us to help our service members quit tobacco use,” said Fitzpatrick. “It’s not always easy to do on your own, so getting support from other people, especially fellow service members, helps.”
Free online resources, such as www.ucanquit2.org, provides support, information and guidance for those who are looking to quit or want support to help them get through the process. The website offers a live chat option, locator option for local classes or counseling to help with quitting, and an interactive quit plan. You can also receive ongoing support through the program’s SmokefreeMIL text message feature, which provides advice, tips and support directly to your phone throughout the process.
“Our priority is to help ensure readiness, good health and better quality of life for our service members,” said Fitzpatrick.