Tobacco Cessation
This year, take the first steps towards living healthier and breathing easier - quit smoking! Breathe California is proud to be hosting a number of its Ash Kickers Quit-Smoking Classes this January to help local residents kick the habit. Led by a trained faciliatator, the class offers smokers the resources and strategies to quit and stay quit. The sessions also provide a comfortable group atmosphere that facilitates a natural support network for each participant. We'll help you every step of the way as your work to become smoke-free. You're not the only on trying to quit and you don't have to do it alone.
Santa Cruz Class Starting Now!
January 20 - February 17Wednesday Evenings, 6:00-7:30 p.m.
Sutter Hospital, 2880 Soquel Ave. Ste. 10
(located on the 2nd floor by the elevator
Santa Cruz, CA
REGISTRATION FEE: $60
To register, please call (831) 251-9563.
Download information about the class.
It's Always a Good Time to Quit
- After one year off cigarettes, the excess risk of heart disease caused by smoking is reduced by half.
- After 15 years of abstinence, the risk is similar to that for people who've never smoked.
- In 5 to 15 years, the risk of stroke for ex-smokers returns to the level of those who've never smoked.
- Male smokers who quit between ages 35 to 39 add an average of 5 years to their lives.
- Female quitters in this age group add 3 years.
- Men and women who quit at ages 65 to 69 increase their life expectancy by 1 year.
Adult Cessation
80% of adult smokers want to quit...
We offer a cessation program, Ash Kickers, to help adults who want to quit. The program provides individuals a supportive environment to address the reasons they smoke and how to quit.
With good smoking cessation programs, 20 to 40 percent of participants are able to quit smoking and stay off cigarettes for at least one year.
Tobacco Control
Impact of Tobacco Control Policy
California smoking rates have dropped 33% since 1988 when California voters passed Proposition 99, which established the state's comprehensive tobacco control program.
Since the passage of Prop 99, cigarette consumption in California has declined by more than 58%. In addition, in the 10 years following the passage of Prop 99, adult smoking in CA declined at twice the rate it declined in the previous decade.
Young Adults
Why the tobacco industry targets young adults…
"Public health has always been fixated on 12 year olds, but the truth of the matter is the Tobacco Companies have always been focused on the 18-25 year olds - because that's where long-term addiction starts."
Stan Glantz, Wisconsin College Summit Keynote 2002
"Younger adults have been the critical factor in the growth and decline of every major brand and company over the last 50 years….Younger adult smokers are the only source of replacement smokers…If younger adults turn away from smoking, the industry must decline, just as a population which does not give birth will eventually dwindle."