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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 21, 2011)
Page 12 The INDEPENDENT, December 21, 2011 More services now available for those who wish to quit smoking Almost 70 percent of Ore- gon tobacco users want to quit, and those who use the free Oregon Tobacco Quit Line have a better chance of break- ing their addiction for good. New online coaching services, in addition to phone coaching, make the Quit Line more con- venient and accessible than ever. “We know that getting help really works when people are trying to quit tobacco,” said Ka- trina Hedberg, M.D., M.P.H., state epidemiologist, Oregon Health Authority’s Oregon Pub- lic Health. “The Oregon Tobac- co Quit Line has helped people quit over the phone for years. The greatly enhanced online services provide personal sup- port and are a convenient op- tion for people who need easy, anytime access, or who may not want to talk on the phone.” Online, people trying to quit can receive live coaching from trained experts with a track record of helping people quit; ask questions or share advice in user forums; and set a goal and track progress on a per- sonal quit plan. Services are free and available 24 hours a day, and there is no limit on use. Online users, as well as phone participants, may be eli- gible for free nicotine gum or patches that can be sent direct- ly to their homes. Online counseling can be accessed in two ways: • People can sign up for on- line counseling by going to www.quitnow.net/Oregon and registering for the online pro- gram. • People can also sign up by calling 1.800.QUIT.NOW and selecting the “chat online with a counselor” option. Online counseling services are currently available in Eng- lish only. Online counseling in Spanish will be available next year. Phone services are avail- able in Spanish at 1-877-2NO- FUME. More online counseling is in response to what Oregonians’ have been telling the program. Local tobacco users who were thinking about quitting said having the option of either phone or online counseling Vernonia Middle School Honor Roll for 2011-12 first quarter The following students were named to the Vernonia Middle School academic Honor Roll for the 2011-12 first quarter. Principal’s Honors – Court- ney Barklow, Emily Bergerson, Annika Johnson, Jacob Patton, Sheyanne Pedersen, Megan Rice, Jocie-Ranay Roberts, Chase Tolonen, and Payton Wolf. High Honors – Tristan 503-901-1705 Adams, Jacob Butcher, Hay- den Cieloha, Brandon Clap- shaw, Bradley Ely, Megan Ely, Kaitlyn Eyrrick, Jessika Good- man, Storm Henson, Ashley Jackson, Amanda Jennings, Brett Jones, Brendyn Mullikin, Jacob Perry, Autumn Soren- son, Clay Sulivan, Ian Torres- Petersen, Mahaila Whilhelm, Jarrett White, and Madison Zavales. Honors – Lily Buchanan, Pearl Cook, Benjamin Fleck, Nichole Gardner, Morgan Har- ral, Jamie Scott, Paige Smith, Sara Smith, and McKenzie Willard. Honorable Mention – Kara Christie, Grace Coleman, Jar- od Elliott, Hannah Fleck, Bre- anna Gardner, Lauren Glass, Casey Hathcoat, Cheyenne Kemper, Rachele Knighton- Hanner, Bryanna Larson, Johnathan Levenseller, Cheyanna March, Ariel Masog, Jackhenry Masog, Amanda- Rose Sicard, Meagan Schirmeister, and Jessica Stringfield. would make it more convenient to access information, counsel- ing and medications. Smokers also emphasized that they liked knowing that whether by phone or Web they were getting help from real people who were caring and friendly. For the past 10 years, the Oregon Tobacco Quit Line has been an important and effec- tive resource for anyone want- ing to break addiction to tobac- co or help someone who is ready to quit. The Quit Line is paid for from taxes collected on tobacco products to promote education and prevention of to- bacco use and to promote to- bacco cessation programs. While the percentage of adults who smoke has de- creased by 26 percent since the Oregon Tobacco Preven- tion and Education Program began – from 23.7 percent in 1996 to 17.5 percent in 2009 – tobacco use remains the lead- ing cause of preventable death. Reducing tobacco use in Ore- gon can help decrease the number of cancer cases, heart disease, and other health prob- lems, which can in turn save lives and reduce health care costs. “The best thing a tobacco user can do for his or her health is quit,” Hedberg said. “People quit in very different, personal ways, and they can use the Quit Line however they need – for coaching, or just for information and a quit plan.” To access the Oregon To- bacco Quit Line visit www.quit- now.net/Oregon or call 1.800. QUIT.NOW (1-800-784-8669) or 1-877-2NO-FUME (1-877- 266-3863). Vernonia Health Board update Though Providence Medical is leaving Vernonia as of De- cember 30, the Vernonia Health Board is in the process of working on other options to bring medical services back to Vernonia in early 2012. The Health Board, which owns the clinic building and contracts with providers to serve the community, has been looking at a number of different options for medical services to find the right fit for Vernonia residents. More information should be available in January or early February. Columbia County Mental Health Domestic Abuse 800-294-5211 ----------------- Suicide Hotline 1-800- 784-2433 503-397-6161 or 1-800-273- TALK(8255) Hotline or 866-397-6161 ----------------- Military Helpline 888-HLP-4-VET (888-457-4838)
