News Release
For Immediate Release: January 5, 2011
Contact Person: Diane Lee, Public Information Officer, 301-334-7730
Tobacco Cessation Program Offered
at Garrett County Health Department
Tobacco cessation classes are scheduled to begin at the Garrett County Health Department on January 12, 2011, at 5:30 p.m. and continue for eight consecutive weeks. The tobacco cessation program is designed to help people quit tobacco use; this includes spit tobacco as well as cigarettes. Class participants develop their own plan for quitting with help from group support and cessation aids which may include Chantix, nicotine patches, nicotine gum, or Zyban. The cessation aids are offered at no cost to participants as part of a grant from the Maryland Cigarette Restitution Fund Program.
“These meetings are pretty low-key,” said program facilitator Mike Wilburn. “We understand that some people are uncomfortable in group settings and the laid-back class approach takes that into consideration.”
Wilburn went on to add, “Although the cessations aids and a resource notebook are free, we do require participants to attend at least 80% of the meetings because we know that success rates are much higher when the cessation aids are combined with group support.”
In addition to the class that is beginning January 12 th at the health department, the following classes are also scheduled:
- February 28 – May 2; 11 a.m.; Garrett County Health Department
- April 6 – June 8; 5:30 p.m.; Garrett County Health Department
A class is tentatively slated to be held at Garrett College in the spring and additional classes may be scheduled at different locations around the county, depending on interest. If you are interested in joining a cessation class, contact Mike Wilburn at the Garrett County Health Department by calling 301-334-7730, 301-895-3111 or by email at mwilburn@dhmh.state.md.us .