Tobacco cessation: Nellis HAWC promotes better lifestyle choices

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jack Sanders
  • 99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. --  The Health and Wellness Center at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., is promoting healthier lifestyle choices for Airmen and their families by offering a variety of classes and services.

One class offered at the HAWC is the tobacco cessation class. Tobacco cessation offers dependency advice, guidance and support to people wishing to kick the habit of smoking or chewing tobacco.

"Tobacco cessation is a five-class session covering stress management, nutrition, relapse prevention, medical concerns and medications," said Laura Weart, HAWC health and fitness specialist director. "The classes take about 30 to 45 minutes depending on how many people are attending. And, the classes cover the facts, so I think most people would say they don't feel like it's a lecture."

The course offers an open forum, where smokers can gather and discuss quitting, pitfalls and work arounds they've experienced.

"'You can't smoke just one' is something we talk about because if you think you can, you end up on a slippery slope, so to speak," Weart said.

Patrons who aren't ready for an open forum or prefer a less invasive method to tobacco cessation have the option of calling the quitline.

"There are two methods offered here that people can use to quit smoking," Weart said. "They can either attend the tobacco cessation classes, or they can call the American Lung Association Tobacco QuitLine. The only catch with the quitline is participants have to call that quitline weekly."

Enrollment is easy for both courses people only need to show up and attend the class at the HAWC to be considered enrolled or simply make the call the quitline at 1-877-695-7848.

"When they call the American Lung Association, they'll talk to a respiratory therapist or nurse who will take them through a series of counseling steps. Then, they will send us the information, we'll get a blood pressure check on them, and then they're prescribed the medication."

Participants are able to receive medication to quit smoking as long as they either attend the tobacco cessation classes or use the quitline.

"The quitline is very good," Weart said. "(It) allows people who do not have a good schedule or who work out at Creech AFB to still get some kind of help if they're looking for it. If your schedule allows you to attend our tobacco cessation classes, please give it a try, and if it doesn't, then maybe try the quitline," Weart said.