The Freedom Express Quit Smoking NOW (QSN) Success Stories

The Freedom Express
FSU College of Medicine Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Tobacco Program
Quit Smoking NOW (QSN) Success Stories
C. Lugowe
Graduate from
QSN Class
Space Coast
Center for
Independent
Living (CIL)
Ms. Lugowe writes:
I'm writing a quick note to you to let you know how
much I appreciate the stop smoking program I took
there. When I put down the cigarettes, I understood
what a horrible addiction I had. It has been so very
hard on me. I know I would never have made it
without the help of Mary Ellen Baldwin especially.
How did you happen upon such a warm caring
woman? I had tried to quit before and was not so
lucky, so believe me when I tell you how important a
person who cares is. After spending some time in
her class, I found her easy to love.
My former Quit Smoking Now counselor, Ray, was
also an amazing man. But he got sick and couldn’t
finish so I had to repeat the class. But I am smoke
free now and determined to hang on. I hate the fact
that cigarettes owned me. I hope Ray is better. Tell
him a student wishes things were different for him.
I know he’ll make it through because he is
made of tough stuff.
Thanks again for all your help!
Free
Phone App
Details on Page 4
Space Coast Center
for Independent Living (CIL)
The Space Coast Center for Independent
Living provides programs and services that
promote independence, create change and
empower people with disabilities to achieve
equality and inclusion within their home,
work and community.
Through a partnership with FSU College of
Medicine AHEC Tobacco Program, Space
Coast CIL has been offering QSN classes
since October of 2012.
Mary Ellen Baldwin and Ray Herring were
trained as Tobacco Treatment Specialists
and QSN Facilitators by FSU.
Ms. Baldwin is the facilitator that assisted
Ms. Lugowe with her successful quit
attempt.
For more information visit the Space Coast
CIL website at www.sccil.net.
DEPRESSION AND SMOKING
Because tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable disease, disability, and death it is important that
people get the help they need to quit successfully.(1) There is a strong connection between smoking and
depression. People who are depressed, or have had depression in the past, are more likely to be cigarette
smokers than those without depression. They also tend to be more heavily addicted and smoke more
cigarettes each day than those without depression.(2)
Does this mean that people with depression are not able to quit? Of course it doesn’t. It just means that
the preparation step becomes more important. There are new medications that can help significantly with
quitting. One of these medications (bupropion) is especially helpful for smokers who are concerned about
depression. So talk to your doctor, your nurse practitioner or counselor and let them know you are interested
in learning more about successful ways of quitting. Chances of quitting are much better when proven
stop-smoking methods are used.
People with depression want to quit smoking for the same reasons that other people want to quit:

To stop worrying about tobacco related illnesses like heart disease and cancer

To be better role models for one’s children, family members, and friends

To protect loved ones, including pets, from exposure to second hand smoke

Or simply to have a better quality of life
Quitting smoking, chewing, or dipping is a journey. And the first step of that journey is to begin thinking
about the reasons why you might want to quit. What would be better about your life if you were able to quit
tobacco?
When you are ready to quit, we’re here to help you!
1.
2.
http://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns (published 02/05/2013)
Pratt et al, CDC National Center for Health Stats data brief No. 34/April 2010.
DID YOU KNOW?
A combination of counseling and medication is the most effective way of quitting.
(U.S. Department of Health & Human Services)
As the editor (Doris Dunphy), I wanted to let you know a little bit about me. I am a Tobacco Treatment
Specialist and work at FSU’s College of Medicine as a Tobacco and Collaborative Health Educator.
In July 2013, I became certified as a Tobacco Treatment Specialist through the Florida Certification
Board. If you have a Quit Smoking success story you would like to share, I want to encourage you to
contact me: [email protected]. or 850-645-0569.
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Ask Our
Nurse Practitioner
In this issue, we introduce Karen
Myers, ARNP, CTTS.
Additional Information
About Ms. Myers:
Ms. Myers is one of the founding
members of the faculty of the
Florida State University College
of Medicine. She is an Assistant
Professor in the Department of
Family Medicine.

Practiced medicine in
Tallahassee since 1984.

Volunteers at Neighborhood
Health Services by providing
care to the underserved in the
Tallahassee area.
Ms. Myers has collaborated with
the AHEC Tobacco Program since
its beginning in 2007. She is a
Certified Tobacco Treatment
Specialist (CTTS).

Spends her spring break
teaching a Cross-Cultural
Medicine class, where she
accompanies students to
underserved areas for medical
missions.
“I need a smoke to relax”. WAIT! Do you really need that jolt of nicotine to calm your nerves? Science says that
you don’t and here is why.
As you smoke, chew, sniff…the nicotine gets into your brain really quickly. Within approximately 10 seconds the
nicotine reaches receptors in the brain that improve mood, make you less angry, and relaxes muscles. So you
feel better and are rewarded by a brief reprieve from your “stress”.
The problem is this relief does not last. After the very brief sense of relaxation, the brain goes into withdrawal
and the craving for more nicotine increases. So as you continue to smoke, the nicotine reduces your withdrawal
symptoms.
This relief of withdrawal symptoms feels similar to your sense of a decrease in your stress or anxiety. This is
referred to as “self-medicating”. But be careful: self-medicating your withdrawal symptoms with continued
smoking does not eliminate or reduce your stress. This cycle of continued tobacco use to avoid nicotine
withdrawal symptoms is one of the major reasons people become addicted to nicotine.
So next time you feel like you have to have that smoke to help yourself relax, just wait. Find something else to
do for a few minutes: meditate, exercise, think happy thoughts. The urge will pass in a few minutes and you can
celebrate not hitting the nicotine.
If you would like to ask Ms. Myers a question or suggest a topic for discussion in The Freedom Express, please
contact Doris Dunphy, editor, at [email protected].
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Florida State University
College of Medicine
Area Health Education Center
(AHEC) Tobacco Program
Visit us online at:
www.med.fsu.edu/ahec/tobacco
1115 West Call Street
Tallahassee, FL 32306-4300
The Quit and Be Free iPhone App* (shown below) was created by the
FSU Area Education Health Center to assist you on your road to freedom
from nicotine addiction.
Download this App for instant support, encouragement and resources.
You will see clearly how each minute of your stopping tobacco use is
translated into a savings of both time and money.
You will be amazed at how quickly this App will show your progress
alongside the benefits gained by not smoking.
iTunes Store: Quit and Be Free iPhone App
*Soon to be available for Android phones
Phone: 850-645-0569
Fax: 850-645-2859
E-mail:
[email protected]
www.quitandbefree.or
AHEC Tobacco Program
1115 W. Call Street, Suite 3200
Tallahassee, FL 32306-4300
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