Cold Turkey on the Corner

Smokers get cold turkey when they go "cold turkey" at Topeka cigarette turn-in

Topeka- Going "cold turkey" will take on a new meaning for smokers who decide to quit during the Great American Smokeout®.

On Thursday, November 17, 2005, smokers will have the opportunity to exchange their cigarettes for a cold turkey sandwich from Jersey Mike's subs at the corner of Ninth Street and Kansas Avenue, outside the KMAJ-FM studios. The "exchange" will run from noon until 1:00 p.m. Smokers will also get information on the toll-free Kansas Quitline (1-866-KAN-STOP), a free and effective resource to help Kansans quit smoking!

These smokers will join millions of people around the world who are choosing to stop smoking on November 17. The 29th annual Great American Smokeout is a nationally recognized event sponsored by the American Cancer Society to challenge people to stop smoking and provide the encouragement and resources to do so.

"The Great American Smokeout is a fantastic opportunity for smokers to join others around the world who have decided now is the time to quit," said Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) Secretary Roderick L. Bremby. "Tobacco use is the number one preventable cause of death in Kansans. With programs like the Quitline, Kansans have a great resource not only during the Great American Smokeout, but every day of the year, to assist in their effort to quit for good."

"The American Cancer Society encourages smokers and tobacco users to quit smoking on November 17, in observance of the Great American Smokeout. It's a good way to start the process of quitting by taking one small step in the right direction," explains Jennifer Taylor, Health Initiatives Specialist for the Society's Topeka office. "We encourage people to stop by our booth downtown to pick up a reward from us for quitting for the day -- and maybe longer!"

In Kansas, about 20 percent of adults currently smoke cigarettes and more than half are seriously considering quitting within the next six months. Currently 29 percent of high school students report using at least one form of tobacco. This includes cigarettes, spit or smokeless tobacco, cigars, pipes, and other forms of novel smoked tobacco. Cigarette smoking is reported by 21 percent of high school students. An estimated 550 Kansas youth become regular smokers each month.

"Quitting tobacco use is an important issue to thousands of Kansans. The state is spending hundreds of millions of dollars to treat illnesses caused by tobacco use, and youth continue to begin smoking," says KDHE Division of Health Director Dr. Howard Rodenberg. "However, hundreds of Kansans who currently smoke have the desire to quit. Both heavy and light smokers will notice an immediate improvement in their health when they quit using tobacco, creating a healthier family and a healthier state."

The toll-free Kansas Tobacco Quitline, 1-866-KAN STOP is a useful and effective tool for tobacco users who are ready to quit! Kansas Tobacco Quitline (1-866-KAN-STOP) is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Experienced cessation counselors work with the caller to prepare for a quit date and help them make a free personalized quit plan. The one-on-one telephone counseling sessions are scheduled at times convenient for the caller. Callers are encouraged to contact the Quitline as many times as possible to help them meet their goals.

The Kansas Tobacco Use Prevention Program provides resources and technical assistance to community coalitions for development, enhancement and evaluation of state and local tobacco prevention initiatives. For additional information about the Kansas Tobacco Quitline or about Great American Smokeout activities in Kansas contact the Kansas Tobacco Use Prevention at www.kdheks.gov/tobacco/.

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