Breathe Roanoke

Smoking Cessation

Cigarette smoking has been identified as the most important source of preventable death and illness. Smoking related diseases claim an estimated 440,000 American lives each year.

Cigarette smoke contains over 4,800 chemicals, 69 of which are known to cause cancer. Smoking is directly responsible for 90 percent of cancer deaths and approximately 80-90 percent of COPD (Emphysema and chronic bronchitis). Smoking is also a major factor in heart disease and stroke. Smoking in pregnancy accounts for an estimated 20 to 30 percent of low birth weight babies, up to 14 percent of preterm deliveries and 10 percent of all infants deaths. Even apparently healthy, full term babies of smokers have been found to have narrowed airways and lower lung function.

(Information provided from the American Lung Association Web Site)

SMOKE-FREE RESTAURANTS

WE ARE NOW SMOKE-FREE IN VIRGINIA*

Thanks to everyone who helped make Virginia restaurants smoke-free.

*Since December 1, 2009, The Virginia Indoor Clean Air Act states that smoking is prohibited in all public restaurants unless the restaurant has a room segregated from the nonsmoking area of the restaurant and ventilated separately so that cigarette smoke can't mingle with air outside the designated smoking area; smoking is permitted in a private club; and smoking on outdoor patios is permitted unless the retractable flaps of the enclosure are closed.

Freedom From Smoking Online - The American Lung Association's free online smoking cessation program! The American Lung Association's popular smoking cessation program has just been revamped and upgraded. Visit this website http://www.ffsonline.org/ to take the program.

Recent News:

June 6, 2006: Surgeon General statement on health hazards from second-hand smoke.

Additional Information:
American Lung Association
American Lung Association of Virginia
Virginia Department of Health Tobacco Use Control

Additional smoking cessation resources may be found on our Resources page