Tobacco cessation classes offered monthly at MacDill

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Sarah Breer
  • 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The Health and Wellness Center at MacDill Air Force Base offers tobacco cessation classes each month to MacDill personnel and their dependents.

The Air Force has set a goal to be a tobacco-free Air Force as outlined in Air Force Instruction 40-102, Tobacco use in the Air Force. Committed to providing an environment that does not encourage or facilitate use of tobacco, the Air Force has prohibited use of tobacco on installations except in designated tobacco areas and housing units.

Tobacco use is the single largest preventable cause of disease and preventable death in the United States, according to the U.S. Center for Disease Control.

"A tobacco user can cost their employer thousands of dollars each year and the Air Force is well aware of that fact," said Laura Osimo, a health educator at the MacDill AFB Health and Wellness Center. Osimo has been facilitating the MacDill tobacco cessation program for two years.

The HAWC, located at the Short Fitness and Sports Center, is supporting the effort to become a tobacco-free force by offering smoking cessation courses.
Tobacco cessation classes are a four-week program offered each month at MacDill and the Brandon Clinic satellite location. The class is modeled after the American Cancer Society Fresh Start program. People interested in the class can sign up by calling or stopping by the HAWC.

"The purpose of the tobacco cessation class is to provide information to assist participants with quitting tobacco, provide skills for coping with craving and offer group support," said Osimo.

"The goal of the class is to increase success with quitting tobacco through education, support, and, often, with the assistance of medication."

Medication is offered to people who attend the class. A pharmacist is present at the first and last classes to help patients understand what they are doing. Participants are offered a few different methods to help them quit smoking.

"During classes participants receive education on fitness, stress management, dental health and weight management to assist with quitting tobacco," said Joan Craft, Health and Wellness Center director.

Each month about 20-25 people attend the class, with classes maxing out at 30 people, Osimo said. People who have attended the class have reported an average 39 percent quit rate six months after taking the class and 32 percent at one year.

"After each month of classes, participants are asked to provide feedback on the course," Osimo said. "They appreciate having a medical provider at each class to speak with in a group setting and one-on-one. They also express enjoyment with the level of knowledge that is presented by the instructors."

The HAWC's tobacco cessation program is helping Team MacDill achieve their goal of contributing to a tobacco free Air Force. For more information on the classes, call the HAWC at 828-4739 or visit their website www.macdillafb.bestofhealth.com.