Kick the habit

  • Published
  • By Amn Allison Boehm
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- --  The Health and Wellness Center offers smoking cessation programs to base members who want to kick the habit. The first is the American Lung Association call line program is for those who want counseling and medication. The second is Fresh Start, the American Cancer Society's quit smoking program, a class conducted in a small group setting and offered monthly over three sessions to address the reasons people smoke. 

Many Airmen are successfully utilizing these programs right here at Barksdale to quit a very harmful and dangerous addiction. With a combined total of 28 years of tobacco use between them, Tech Sgt. Brian McKinney, non commissioned officer in charge of energy management and control systems, and Staff Sgt. Joseph Upton, information protection operations technician, both decided to kick the habit. 

"I decided to quit because of recent health issues and a promise to my wife," said Sergeant McKinney. "Chewing tobacco felt like it was slowing me down." 

Both sergeants took advantage of the ALA call line program. 

"All it took was a three to five minute conversation with the ALA counselors," said Sergeant McKinney. "It took seven to eight days for the medication to get into my system and it worked by blocking my receptors that made me want tobacco. I tried chewing tobacco once while I was on the medication and it tasted gross." 

Anti-tobacco drugs and the nicotine replacement patch are available through the HAWC to those who are eligible. Medication is offered to those who are enrolled in either the ALA call line program or our Fresh Start class, said Michelle Curry, health education program manager at the HAWC. Participants in the class or call line program can also utilize the ALA line for refills on medication. 

"I called into ALA once a week for 12 weeks and told them how I was doing or if I needed a refill on my medication," said Sergeant McKinney. "After you complete the treatment, ALA likes to hear back from you at least once a month to track how you are doing. I've been tobacco free for 14 weeks now." 

Staying tobacco free helps eliminate health risks, and saves money. Cigarette smoke contains over 4,000 chemical compounds. Many are toxic and are known to cause cancer. Additionally, statistics show if you smoked a pack a day, at $3.25 a pack, you would save $1,182.09 a year. 

"The ALA call line program worked for me because it was low stress and no worries." said Sergeant Upton. "The easiest part of quitting with the ALA program was taking the meds and losing the urge and desire to smoke. The hardest part to quit smoking is letting go of the habit." 

David Sweeney, base facilitator for the Fresh Start smoking cessation class, also completed the program in 1994. Mr. Sweeney, who smoked and occasionally chewed tobacco, has been tobacco free for 14 years thanks to guidance from Fresh Start.
Mr. Sweeney challenges tobacco users to join one of the classes offered during lunch hours on Wednesday from 11:30 to 12:30 three times a month. 

"If you don't really want to quit, you probably won't succeed," Sergeant Upton. "This was my third attempt ... the only difference this time was that I really wanted to quit." 

For those who are trying to kick the habit of tobacco use, registration for the smoking cessation programs can be done through the HAWC. For more information call Michelle Curry at 456-6010.