The Rockland County Department of Health can help you quit smoking and learn how to protect yourself and your family from second hand smoke. If you or someone you love is ready to quit smoking or needs information, we're here to help. We have the skills and experience to help you become smoke free. Call us at (845) 364-2651 to quit smoking now!
How we help you quit smoking:
- Ongoing support
- Behavior modification techniques
- Nicotine replacement products - an eight week supply, which can double your success at quitting smoking (if you are medically eligible)
- Up to four, 30-minute sessions with a Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist
- Sessions meet over a six-week period
For help to quit smoking, you can also call
The New York State Smokers Quitline at
1-866-NY-QUITS (1-866-697-8487).
Why should you quit smoking? Here's what's in a cigarette that makes it so bad for you:
Cigarettes contain over 4,000 chemicals; many of them cause cancer. Here are just a few of the harmful ingredients:
Before you take that next drag, think about exactly what you're putting into your body. Cigarettes are the one product that when used as directed can kill you!
Here's what smoking can do to your body:
Smokers inhale over 4,000 chemicals into their lungs. Around 40 of the chemicals are known to cause cancer. Tar (a collection of many tiny particles from the burning cigarette) is deposited on the respiratory tract. This causes an increase in risk of asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer. Read more about the health effects of smoking.
Here are some tips to help you get control of your cravings so you can live smoke free:
Find out how to deal with stress while you are trying to quit.
The dangers of second hand smoke are very, very real!
Secondhand smoke, also known as environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), is a mixture of the smoke given off by the burning end of a cigarette, pipe or cigar and the smoke exhaled by a smoker. It is composed of nearly 4,000 different chemicals, some of which cause cancer, and chemical compounds such as benzene, arsenic, carbon monoxide, ammonia and cyanide. Non-smokers and pets are exposed to toxic chemicals just like smokers are when they breathe in second hand smoke.
Smoke Free Cars: It's the law!
In June 2007, Rockland County passed the Kids in Cars Smoking Safety Act, Local Law #6. This law prohibits smoking in vehicles with children under the age of 18. The law protects children from the toxic chemicals in smoke that put children at increased risk for bronchitis, pneumonia, ear infections, more severe asthma, respiratory symptoms, and slowed lung growth.
The Rockland County Multiple Unit Dwelling Smoking Policy Law
On January 1, 2012 this law went into effect. It takes a major step towards protecting Rockland County residents from the harmful effects of second hand smoke in their own homes. For more information about the law click here.