Help to kick the habit

Hand over those coffin nails.

In recognition of National Public Health Week in April, Panhandle Health District will give free Tobacco Quit Kits filled with goodies and resources to people who turn in their tobacco.

From Monday, April 7, through Friday, April 11, every Panhandle Health District office in the five northern counties will accept unused tobacco in any form in trade for a Quit Kit. The Harding Family Center in Coeur d'Alene and Head Start facilities in Kellogg and Sandpoint also will accept tobacco.

The Quit Kits will include gum, mints, toothpaste, sunflower seeds, fresh fruit, a toothbrush, bottle of water, quit resources and more.

"Our goals are to reduce the smoking rate and to provide resources," said Linda Harder, the health district's coordinator of tobacco prevention and cessation programs.

Tobacco users will deposit their tobacco in large glass jars filled with vinegar, which turn-in sites will keep on public display throughout the week. Information on the health district's free tobacco cessation course and individual consultations will be available at the time users make their deposits.

"According to our latest vital statistics information from Health and Welfare, 2,559 Idahoans died from cancer in 2011, with 616 of those deaths from lung cancer," said Lora Whalen, PHD director. "I urge every one of us to think about these statistics and consider ways we can decrease these numbers."

The adult smoking rate in North Idaho ranges from 18 percent to 28 percent, depending on county. The state's rate is 17 percent and the national goal is 13 percent.

Panhandle Health District offers the American Cancer Society's Freshstart program. Freshstart includes motivational intervention activities, practical counseling, social support and education about medication and approaches to quitting based on evidence that these methods help with success.

The Freshstart program is four weekly one-hour sessions.

Turn in Your Tobacco is one component of PHD's National Public Health Week activities designed to improve health throughout North Idaho. Other activities include the monthlong Moving Minutes Challenge to promote physical activity and the showing of the PBS series "The Weight of the Nation."

Health district offices will collect tobacco 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. April 7-11. The office in Hayden also will collect through the lunch hour. For information, call 415-5143 or visit www.phd1.idaho.gov.