Quit Smoking with Freshstart,
a Free Program from Pen Bay Healthcare and
the Knox County Community Health Coalition
Freshstart is the American Cancer Society's quit-smoking program. It consists of four one-and-a-half-hour sessions held during a four-week period.
This program, free to the public, is available at the Knox County Health Clinic in Rockland eight times in 2009.
Why quit now? Most people already know that smoking increases their chances of developing emphysema, heart disease, and lung and other cancers. It is a scientific fact that quitting smoking, no matter how long a person has been smoking, decreases the risk of smoking-related diseases and improves health.
Five years after quitting, the risk of lung cancer decreases by almost half. People who quit smoking experience improved cardiovascular function, which means lower blood pressure and more energy. They also enjoy a renewed sense of taste and smell.
Freshstart follows the Department of Health and Human Services Guidelines for Tobacco Use and Prevention.
What will happen to me in Freshstart?
The Freshstart program is designed to help participants stop smoking in two weeks. Freshstart emphasizes that smoking cessation is a two-part process: (1) stopping and (2) staying stopped.
Because individuals differ as to which part is most difficult for them, Freshstart addresses both processes: the group and facilitator will help participants stop smoking as quickly as possible and learn new techniques for ending the physical and psychological need to smoke.
The four meetings will be conducted as work sessions. A Freshstart facilitator will begin each meeting by asking for questions or individual reactions from group members. Quitting cold turkey, use of nicotine replacement, fighting urges to smoke, addressing physical symptoms of withdrawal from smoking, and highlighting all of the benefits of not smoking are completely discussed throughout the four weeks.
Freshstart will provide concrete ways to handle two major obstacles for many ex-smokers: weight control and stress management. Participants will have a Freshstart kit with materials for you to review and use at meetings and at home. All along, Freshstart reinforces that each participant is the key to his or her own Fresh Start. Freshstart provides effective tools to use while participants stop themselves from smoking.
How is Freshstart unique?
Freshstart is designed for the adult smoker – no gimmicks, meaningless group activities, or busywork.
Freshstart makes maximum use of the smoker's time. The format is convenient for most people's schedules, even in the workplace.
While Freshstart uses group interaction to support quitting goals, individual situations are given more attention than group process.
Quitting smoking quickly is the main goal of Freshstart, maintained by techniques and support to keep a smoker off cigarettes.
How much does it cost?
Thanks to a grant received from the Knox County Community Health Coalition, Pen Bay Healthcare can offer these classes to the community free of charge. All classes in a series of four must be attended.
For more information or to register, call the PBMC Education Department at 596-8443. All classes will be held at the Knox County Health Clinic in the Bok Medical Arts Building at 22 White Street in Rockland, on Wednesdays from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
2009 Freshstart schedule
- January 7, 14, 21, 28
- February 4, 11, 18, 25
- March 4, 11, 18, 25
- April 1, 8, 15, 22
- May 6, 13, 20, 27
- September 2, 9, 16, 23
- October 7, 14, 21, 28
- November 4, 11, 18, 25