Living tobacco free

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jessica Keith
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  For those who want to quit using tobacco, the Goodfellow Health and Wellness Center offers a variety of options to help transition to a healthier, tobacco free lifestyle.

Using tobacco is known to have negative effects on health and on the accomplishment of the Air Force mission. This has led to a revision of AFI 40-102, Tobacco Use in the Air Force.

Notable changes to the AFI include no longer allowing tobacco usage on or around medical facilities; tobacco use includes smoked and smokeless tobacco. Air Force students are also prohibited from using tobacco in duty uniform.

One of the biggest changes is that smoking in vehicles while on base is no longer allowed. All tobacco users must be in a designated tobacco area to use either smoked or smokeless tobacco.

These changes make smoking on base inconvenient and as such, the HAWC offers Tobacco Free Living, a program to help those who are ready to quit or reduce their tobacco use.

To support the American Cancer Society's 37th annual Great American Smokeout Nov. 15 the HAWC will be offering cessation support and materials. The goal of the GASO is to encourage smokers to use the date to develop a quit plan, or to plan in advance and quit smoking that day. The HAWC will be providing information at the Base Exchange during lunch and offering materials at the HAWC throughout the day.

To help prepare for the GASO, the HAWC will be giving away Quit Kits containing cessation materials and providing on-site cessation counseling Nov. 14 during Sports Day on the exercise pad by Mathis Fitness Center. To receive a Quit Kit go to the HAWC and sign-up for a cessation class.

"We know quitting tobacco is hard," said Lisa Roof, Health Promotions manager. "We are here to support you by offering educational materials and group and one-on-one counseling. We also have providers available to offer tobacco cessation medicines and nicotine replacement therapy."

The Tobacco Free Living program focuses on stress management techniques, setting a quit date, nutrition for managing cravings, and strategies for preventing weight gain to promote long-term cessation.

Program sessions are offered at the HAWC the first and third Tuesdays of every month at 11:30 a.m. and the first and third Thursdays of the month at 4:30 p.m.

Online support chat rooms and cessation classes lead by experts are available at http://www.ucanquit2.org.

The TRICARE Quitline also offers 24-hour support at (877) 414-9949.

For more information or to enroll in cessation classes call (325) 654-5962 or email hawc2@goodfellow.af.mil.