GREAT AMERICAN SMOKEOUT CHANGES TO LONG-TERM FOCUS

In its 21st year the Great American Smokeout, which will be held Thursday, is changing its focus as a one day event to the first day of a continuing process for quitting smoking.

The annual event sponsored by the American Cancer Society is being observed by a number of other organizations in the area as well.

St. Francis Medical Center and Southeast Hospital both have classes to help people who are ready to quit smoking throughout the year.

Scott Givens, a wellness specialist with Southeast Hospital's Wellness Center, said the seven-week course gives smokers the information and support to break the habit. The program at Southeast is held several times throughout the year. The next class begins in January.

Coping with lifestyle change and forming new habits like exercising and nutrition are a part of the course.

St. Francis also provides the Freedom from Smoking class. The next six-week class will begin Jan. 12 and will be held Mondays from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the Center for Health and Rehabilitation on Mount Auburn Road.

Missouri ASSIST (American Stop Smoking Intervention STudy) association works closely with the American Cancer Society to help Missourians stop smoking.

Missouri is one of 17 states receiving the ASSIST federal grant.

Jerrell Driver, an ASSIST consultant, wants the Great American Smokeout to become the first day of a smoke free life.

Hard core smokers are being targeted by this year's event, Driver said.

The American Cancer Society is also targeting teens to quit smoking.

While the event has always asked that non-smoking family members and co-workers be supportive of smokers trying to quit, teens haven't been targeted directly.

Health professionals at St. Louis Children's Hospital urge the same support be extended to teens and adolescents who use tobacco products, including cigarettes and smokeless tobacco.

Dr. Lynn White, head of Children's Adolescent Center, said that while smoking rates among adults are dropping, surveys find the proportion of youngsters who are regular users of tobacco continue to rise.

National surveys find that 16 to 28 percent of high school juniors are regular users of some form of tobacco. Teen girls represent the fastest growing segment of new cigarette users, while a large proportion of teen boys who use tobacco tend to favor smokeless tobacco.

Dr. White said that teens in surveys have used the following reasons to quit:

-- Immediate health consequences, such as coughing and diminished athletic performance,

-- Negative aesthetic effects, especially the smell,

-- Family and social disapproval and

-- Cost,

If parents are trying to get their children to stop using tobacco products, Dr. White suggests emphasizing the more immediate negatives of tobacco use.

Smoking has increasingly become a socially unacceptable habit. Since the first Surgeon General's warning, in 1964 the number of Americans smoking has dropped from 42 percent then to 22 percent today, according to Driver.

Driver added that last year 12 million people tried to quit on the Great American Smokeout. That was 26 percent of the smoking population, in surveys 21 percent said they were smoking less or not at all 1 to 10 days later.

The push at hard-core smokers and long-term commitment to a smoke-free lifestyle is coupled with programs targeted at young people because 82 percent of smokers started before the age of 18.

There are many incentives to stop smoking on Thursday. The American Cancer Society is offering discounts on nicotine patches, counseling and other aids for those serious about extinguishing that last cigarette.

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Children targeted by prevention program

This year's Smoke Scream program will tour four elementary schools to get the message out to children about the hazards of smoking.

The program sponsored by Little Caesar's Pizza, St. Francis Medical Center, Southeast Hospital, Missouri Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Zimmer Radio Group will visit St. Vincent school in Perryville, on Monday, Clippard Elementary in Cape Girardeau on Tuesday, St. Dennis school in Benton on Wednesday and St. Paul Lutheran School in Jackson on Thursday.

Vivian Selby, account executive at the Zimmer Radio Group, said the program is trying to reach children before they start smoking.

Selby said the children will receive a Great American Smokeout Survival Kit, which will include coupons, bumper stickers, information, pens and pencils, a workbook from Missouri ASSIST and other items.

The program will show children why they should never pick up the habit. Mr. Butts, played by Scott Givens, a wellness associate at Southeast Hospital's Wellness Center, will also be on hand to show the hazards of smoking.

Givens will give pamphlets to children about the dangers of picking up the habit. Givens will be dressed up like a cigarette butt during the elementary programs.

Marietta Obergoenner, account executive for Zimmer Radio Group, said, "I grew up around smoking and I saw what it did to my mother. Thankfully, she has quit since then."

Obergoenner, who suffers from asthma, once tried smoking in the sixth grade when her cousin pressured her into taking a few puffs.

"I had an asthma attack on the spot and I knew it wasn't worth it," Obergoenner said.

It has always been a mission of mine to be able to communicate with children the dangers of smoking.

The children will be asked to sign a pledge stating they never will try smoking.

Those pledges will be drawn out at the end of the week and the student's name drawn will win a pizza party for their class.

Missouri Blue Cross/Blue Shield has offered a mountain bike to be given away to one lucky smoke-free student as well. There are also daily drawings with gift certificates being given away.