Black Lens - March 2021

Page 24
March 2021
www.blacklensnews.com
The Black Lens Spokane
March 20, 2021: National Kick Butts Day
COVID-19 has resulted
in disproportionate illness
and death within communities
of color throughout
the United States. Nationally,
the African American
community is among those
experiencing significantly
higher rates of cases, death,
and hospitalizations associated
with COVID-19.
Supporting a healthier lifestyle
by quitting smoking
and vaping is one way to
avoid severe illness due to
COVID-19.
Recent evidence shows
that stopping vaping has
many benefits. National
Kick Butts Day, March 20,
2021, is an opportune time
to begin the journey to stop
smoking or vaping. The
nicotine in tobacco and vapor products
is very addictive, so it usually
takes people several attempts to quit.
Quitting is difficult, and there is help.
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• Many insurances cover nicotine replacement
therapies such as patch,
gum and tobacco cessation counseling.
Ask your doctor for a referral.
• The QuitLine is available at
1-800-QUIT-NOW for people with
or without insurance.
• Washingtonians can now text
READY to 200-400 to register for free
phone-based counseling, as well as
text- and web-based cessation support.
• Locally, Inland Northwest Health
Services offers Quit for Good, a fourweek
class that can be attended in
person or online. Participants receive
patches and gum if it is not covered
by insurance.
• New, free quit apps are available for
quitting smoking, vaping and other
forms of tobacco use at www.doh.
wa.gov/YouandYourFamily/Tobacco/HowtoQuit.
• Other cessation resources can
be found at the Spokane Regional
Health District’s www.donemyway.
org/cessationsheet.
It is well documented that African
Americans are one of the groups most
targeted and impacted by tobacco
companies and their products. While
the number of youth in the African
American community who
use some tobacco products
(e.g. cigarettes, cigarillos,
etc.) has steadily decreased
over the last 10 years, the use
of vapor products (e.g. e-cigarettes,
JUUL, PAX, etc.) increased.
African American
youth are three times more
likely to use a vapor product
than any other type of tobacco
product.
Now is a great time to talk to
youth about the dangers of
vaping, how to quit, or how
to keep them from starting.
For advice on how to start
the conversation, visit www.
starttalkingnow.org
If you or someone you
love uses tobacco or vapor
products and would like to
make a quit attempt, call
1-800-QUIT-NOW or talk to your
healthcare provider.
National Kick Butts Day is a national
movement against Big Tobacco and
has been held annually since 1996.
It is a day of activism that empowers
youth leaders, teachers, and health
advocates to speak out and organize
events that raise awareness in their
communities about the problems associated
with tobacco use.
OUR COMMUNITY’S ONLY NONPROFIT HOSPICE,
SERVING PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES SINCE 1977.
“ I LOVE SINGING
with clients and just
remembering to do the little
things that make it special
for each of them. It’s my
passion and honor to
do this work.”
– Kathryn Gordon
hospice nurse aide
south hospice house
DIGNITY.
RESPECT.
COMPASSION.
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888-459-0438
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