Quit Smoking NOW: Smokefree.gov Resources

Smokefree.gov: Reasons for Quitting

Smokefree.gov: Smoking Triggers

Smokefree.gov: Putting a Stop to Smoky Thinking

Clearing the Air (2011) - Smokefree.gov's Online Guide to Quitting for all smokers interested in quitting

This booklet is designed to help you at any stage—whether you’re still thinking about quitting, have made the decision to quit, or have already taken steps to quit and just need help maintaining your new lifestyle. Both ex-smokers and experts have contributed to this guide. Clearing the Air can help people at all stages make it to their final goal—living smokefree. AVAILABLE AS PDF TO SAVE OR PRINT, TOO!

Forever Free™ (2011) for smokers who have recently quit

Congratulations! You’ve made the decision to stop smoking, and have taken real steps to quit. Now comes the next step: Staying smokefree. People who quit smoking initially fight to overcome their body’s addiction to the drug nicotine. But afterward, they still face challenges that can tempt them to smoke. Forever Free™ includes eight booklets that describe these challenges and ways to deal with them without smoking. Among the topics are controlling weight gain, dealing with stress, and what to do if you have that first cigarette. AVAILABLE AS PDF TO SAVE OR PRINT, TOO!

Forever Free for Baby and Me™ (2004) for pregnant smokers who have recently quit

Congratulations on quitting smoking! You have taken one of the most important health steps that a woman can take. The fact that you asked for Forever Free for Baby and Me means that you want to stay smokefree for you, your baby, and your family. You can succeed! Your commitment, along with the Forever Free for Baby and Me booklets, should increase your chance of success! AVAILABLE AS PDF TO SAVE OR PRINT, TOO!

Libres Para Siempre por mi Bebé y por Mí™(2004) para fumadoras embarazadas que han dejado de fumar recientemente

¡Felicidades por dejar de fumar! Usted ha dado uno de los pasos más importantes que una mujer puede dar. El hecho de haber pedido información sobre "Libres para siempre por mi bebé y por mí" significa que desea vivir sin fumar: por su bien, el de su bebé y el de su familia. ¡Puede lograrlo! ¡Ese compromiso y los folletos de "Libres para siempre por mi bebé y por mí" mejorarán sus probabilidades de éxito! AVAILABLE AS PDF TO SAVE OR PRINT, TOO!

Guía: Viva de forma más saludable para usted y su familia, deje de fumar hoy mismo (2011) para fumadores de habla hispana

El número de habitantes de habla hispana está aumentando rápidamente y, pronto, ellos llegarán a ser el segundo grupo étnico más grande en los Estados Unidos. Junto con este crecimiento, hay una necesidad mayor de materiales en español que podrían ayudar a la población de habla hispana a dejar de fumar y ha mantenerse así. Escritas para quienes piensan dejar de fumar o quienes ya han dejado de fumar, estas 44 páginas están llenas de fotos, dibujos llamativos y contenido que se basa en la cultura hispana. AVAILABLE AS PDF TO SAVE OR PRINT, TOO!

Pathways to Freedom for African American smokers
This guide was developed to address the national concern over the high rates of smoking among the African-American population. This updated edition (2003) offers proven strategies for anyone who wants to quit; how friends and family can help, and how the community and its leaders can promote the value of gaining freedom from tobacco. AVAILABLE AS PDF TO SAVE OR PRINT, TOO!

Smokeless Tobacco: A Guide for Quitting for young men who have decided to quit using spit tobacco
This booklet is designed specifically for young men who have decided to quit using spit tobacco or who are thinking about quitting. It includes reasons to quit, addresses myths about spit tobacco, and helps the reader develop a plan for quitting.

AVAILABLE AS PDF TO SAVE OR PRINT, TOO!

Fact Sheets and FAQs for smokers and non-smokers looking to learn about the impact of smoking
19 Fact Sheets and set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) providing information about cigarettes and other tobacco products, environmental tobacco smoke, and additional topics.  AVAILABLE AS PDF TO SAVE OR PRINT, TOO!

NPR Audio: Diagnosis Can Miss ADHD Symptoms In Girls

Diagnosis Can Miss ADHD Symptoms In Girls

Listen to the Story

The majority of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) research has focused on boys. But recent research shows that many girls who have ADHD simply aren't diagnosed — ADHD manifests itself in girls as detachment and distraction rather than in the disruptive behavior often seen in boys.

Until, recently the majority of ADHD research has concentrated on those boys. But, even though young men do struggle with ADHD look beyond them and you'll see girls who are fighting the disorder. Only, they tend to be staring out a window - distracted and disconnected. These girls often are under-diagnosed and at a higher risk for depression, substance abuse, eating disorders and trouble with their peers.

Smokefree Women: Smoking in Your State: Data View

Smokefree Women: Smoking in Your State: Data View

Smoking in Your State: Data View

State	Percentage of Adults That Smoke	Pack Price	Pack Price Rank	Smoking Percentage Rank	Work Ban?	Bar Ban?	Restaurant Ban?
United States	20.6	5.51	--	--	no	no	no
Alaska	20.6	7.01	8th	12th	no	no	no
Alabama	22.5	4.42	48th	7th	no	no	no
Arkansas	21.4	5.22	28th	11th	yes	no	no
Arizona	16.1	6.20	12th	40th	yes	yes	yes
California	12.8	5.09	29th	50th	yes	yes	yes
Colorado	17.0	4.88	32nd	35th	yes	yes	yes
Connecticut	15.4	7.31	5th	43rd	yes	yes	yes
Washington, DC	15.2	6.56	10th	45th	yes	yes	yes
Delaware	18.2	4.99	30th	23rd	yes	yes	yes
Florida	18.1	5.40	21st	24th	yes	no	yes
Georgia	17.6	4.44	46th	30th	no	no	no
Hawaii	15.3	7.56	3rd	44th	yes	yes	yes
Iowa	17.1	5.26	27th	34th	yes	yes	yes
Idaho	16.3	4.53	43rd	39th	no	no	yes
Illinois	18.5	5.57	18th	22nd	yes	yes	yes
Indiana	23.1	4.82	34th	5th	no	no	no
Kansas	17.8	4.72	36th	29th	yes	yes	yes
Kentucky	25.6	4.55	40th	1st	no	no	no
Louisiana	22.0	4.40	49th	10th	yes	no	yes
Massachusetts	14.9	7.04	7th	49th	yes	yes	yes
Maryland	15.1	6.11	13th	46th	yes	yes	yes
Maine	17.2	6.08	14th	32nd	yes	yes	yes
Michigan	19.6	6.04	15th	18th	yes	yes	yes
Minnesota	16.7	5.27	25th	37th	yes	yes	yes
Missouri	23.1	3.97	51st	6th	no	no	no
Mississippi	23.3	4.55	40st	4th	no	no	no
Montana	16.8	5.36	23rd	36th	yes	yes	yes
North Carolina	20.3	4.55	40nd	14th	no	yes	yes
North Dakota	18.6	4.14	50th	21st	yes	no	no
Nebraska	16.7	4.64	38th	38th	yes	yes	yes
New Hampshire	15.7	5.46	20th	42nd	yes	yes	yes
New Jersey	15.8	7.06	6th	41st	yes	yes	yes
New Mexico	17.9	5.79	16th	26th	yes	yes	yes
Nevada	22.0	4.95	31st	8th	yes	no	yes
New York	17.9	8.97	1st	25th	yes	yes	yes
Ohio	20.3	5.30	24th	13th	yes	yes	yes
Oklahoma	25.4	4.86	33rd	3rd	no	no	no
Oregon	17.8	4.76	35th	28th	yes	yes	yes
Pennsylvania	20.2	5.39	22nd	16th	yes	no	no
Rhode Island	15.0	7.63	2nd	47th	yes	yes	yes
South Carolina	20.3	4.49	44th	15th	no	no	no
South Dakota	17.4	5.27	25th	31st	yes	yes	yes
Tennessee	22.0	4.72	36th	9th	no	no	no
Texas	17.9	5.47	19th	27th	no	no	no
Utah	9.8	5.70	17th	51st	yes	yes	yes
Virginia	19.0	4.44	46th	19th	no	no	no
Vermont	17.1	6.53	11th	33rd	yes	yes	yes
Washington	14.9	7.54	4th	48th	yes	yes	yes
Wisconsin	18.7	6.72	9th	20th	yes	yes	yes
West Virginia	25.5	4.49	44th	2nd	no	no	no
Wyoming	19.9	4.56	39th	17th	no	no	no

Back to the Smoking in Your State Map

Community Engagement Model Development plans

So, I want to spend some time learning about community engagement.  Since I began this final internship of my graduate education, this seems to be a huge part that's missing in community change efforts.  I want to know what I can learn from the research out there - what are well-researched methods? what are best evidence-based practices? what "should" we be using in our change projects? when is best to poll the community?  in the beginning, before we start, as a check-up on progress, to gain satisfaction rating on the job we're doing, in the end as an evaluative measure?  ALL OF THE ABOVE?  How can we partner with communities and their members, the people who are actually affected most by these changes, and the ones who probably know best (despite our best efforts at studying them)?  How can we act as community members' consultants, instead of what usually happens that we end up doing things to them?

Below is a mind map of some of the thoughts I have on the issue, and where I want to go with these ideas.  Ultimately, I'd like to continue the work that I'm doing at my internship -- collaborating with other community planning staff on unique ways that we can do this as social scientists, ways that including use of the many tools available to us on the Internet, and ways that make partnering with community representatives and stakeholders as painless, inexpensive, and rewarding as possible.

I don't know if anyone will read this, but I'm looking for people to partner with to work on this project.  I have an idea to start us off with that I believe would be effective. 

If you think you might be interested, please let me know.  Eventually, I want to publish a paper about the development of the model and the data collected about its effectiveness during testing.  At the least, I want to publish it in the "grey literature" (websites and other self-publishing media).

Quit Smoking NOW Resources: Identify Your Triggers

Smoking Triggers

What are your "triggers"?

Certain things trigger, or turn on, your need for a cigarette. They can be moods, feelings, places, or things you do. Knowing your triggers helps you stay in control. Put a check next to things that tempt you to smoke:
Feeling stressed
Feeling down
Talking on the phone
Drinking liquor, like wine or beer
Watching TV
Driving
Finishing a meal
Playing cards
Taking a work break
Being with other smokers
Drinking coffee
Seeing someone else smoke
Cooling off after a fight
Feeling lonely
After having sex
My other triggers are:
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via: SmokeFree.gov

Asthma Action Plan: resource for people with asthma

Having been recently diagnosed with asthma, and being at a point where my breathing had gotten truly scary, I’d like to offer a resource about helping to keep your asthma under control.  I honestly had no idea what was happening to me because I was misdiagnosed with a relatively benign condition by my primary doctor, I find it essential these days to stay on top of my health and to learn all I can about my own potential issues.  This list of warning signs was provided by Primatene’s website:
Use this Asthma Action Plan prepared by you and your doctor as soon as warning signs develop.
WARNING SIGNS may include:
A drop in your peak-flow reading (earliest warning sign!)
A chronic cough, especially at night
Difficult or rapid breathing
Chest tightness or discomfort
Running out of breath more easily than usual
Fatigue
Wheezing
Feeling that the head is stuffed up
Headache
Fever
Restlessness
A runny nose
A change in the color of the face
Dark circles under the eyes

Quit Smoking NOW Resources: Identify Reasons for Quitting

Reasons for Quitting

Here are some examples of reasons to quit:
I will feel healthier right away. I will have more energy and better focus. My senses of smell and taste will be better. I will have whiter teeth and fresher breath. I will cough less and breathe better.
I will be healthier the rest of my life. I will lower my risk for cancer, heart attacks, strokes, early death, cataracts, and skin wrinkling.
I will make my partner, friends, family, kids, grandchildren, and co-workers proud of me.
I will be proud of myself. I will feel more in control of my life. I will be a better role model for others.
I will no longer expose others to my second-hand smoke.
I will have a healthier baby. (If you or your partner is pregnant)
I will have more money to spend.
I won't have to worry: "When will I get to smoke next?" or "What do I do when I'm in a smokefree place?"
My other reasons are:
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via SmokeFree.gov_