Left In Lowell

No, it’s not a command on my part (though, if you do, you should). Just an alert about a new program in Lowell that I’ve been meaning to post about all week but kept not getting to. This pilot program will offer residents looking to kick the habit with two weeks of free nicotine patches. If you are a smoker, or care for someone who is, you can come to the kickoff event next Monday in support of it! Click on the link to read more details.

LOWELL GETS READY TO QUIT SMOKING WITH 2 FREE WEEKS OF NICOTINE PATCHES

WHO: The Massachusetts Department of Public Health, with the City of Lowell, UMass Lowell and the Lowell Community Health Center, local businesses, institutions and community groups.

WHAT: The launch of an exciting new health initiative called READY, SET, QUIT LOWELL. READY, SET, QUIT LOWELL is a pilot program that will run from March 24 to May 23, 2008. It will encourage Lowell residents, employees and students to quit smoking by offering them telephone support through 1-800-Try-To-STOP and a free two-week supply nicotine patches. READY, SET, QUIT is designed to motivate people who smoke to make a meaningful quit attempt and will be widely promoted through the City of Lowell, workplaces, hospitals, health centers, community groups, and voluntary agencies.

Speakers Include: John Auerbach - Commissioner, Mass. Department of Public Health, Bernard Lynch - Lowell City Manager, Marty Meehan - Chancellor, UMass Lowell, Tom Golden – State Representative, Kevin Murphy – State Representative, Dorcas Grigg-Saito – CEO, Lowell Community Health Center

WHERE: Lowell City Hall, Mayor’s Reception Room, 375 Merrimack Street, Lowell, Mass.
WHEN: Monday, March 24, 2008, 10 a.m.
CONTACT: Donna Rheaume, 617-624-5006 or Dave Newman, 617-263-3322

Cigarette smoking is still the leading cause of preventable disease and death in Massachusetts. Lowell was chosen for this pilot program because of the high smoking rate among the residents of the city. The smoking rate among residents of Lowell is much higher than the statewide rate, contributing to avoidable illnesses, including lung cancer, asthma and cardiovascular disease.

READY, SET, QUIT aims to educate people who smoke about the use and effectiveness of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) or the “Patch”. Multiple strategies will be used to share the facts about NRT and dispel myths. Included with each delivery will be simplified instructions for using the patch in both English and Spanish. Tens of thousands of Palm Cards, Posters and Stickers have also been distributed throughout the area to local area partners.