MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII -- More than 23.7 million smokers attempted to quit in 2010, according to a smoking cessation fact sheet from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention website.
Marines, sailors and their families can find help quitting tobacco with classes offered by Naval Health Clinic Hawaii and the Health Promotion Office.
Classes are available every Tuesday at 10 a.m. on the second floor of the NHCH Kaneohe Bay branch. The hour-long classes last four weeks, starting on the first Tuesday of each month, lasting an hour.
The classes are led by either Neil Morgan, health promotions coordinator for Marine Corps Base Hawaii, or Eleanor Bru a registered nurse from Makalapa Clinic. Morgan can lead the classes but is not qualified to give out medications like Bupropion.
“Some of the people who come can be very successful,” Morgan said. “You can tell who will succeed. I’ve had people come up to me a year later and (say), ‘Thanks, I’ve been smoke-free for the last year’.”
The first class is an introduction class taught with a Power Point presentation and discussions. Each class has between three to four participants, sometimes more or less. Homework is assigned the first day of class. The students must keep a log for three days and write down every cigarette they’ve had, what time, who they were with, what they were doing, and how they felt when they smoked. They also need to pick a “quit date” so that they can prepare for success.
Each class normally consists of group discussions. The class covers triggers and time for students to share experiences and advice on what has worked and not worked for them in the past.
“There are some days where I want to quit and some when I don’t,” said Lance Cpl. Chris White, fire direction and control specialist, 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment. “But I know I need to quit. This class is more of a foundation than just quitting cold turkey.”
Active duty service members and family members participating in the class are given the opportunity to receive nicotine patches, nicotine gum or medicine to help with quitting for free. Department of Defense civilians are welcome to attend the classes but cannot receive free nicotine replacement therapy or medications.
The success rate is raised when people participate in the class as well as use one of the medications or nicotine substitutes.
Eligible participants who are interested in attending can call 254-7636 or show up for the class.