LITTLE ROCK – (September 8, 2022) – Today, the Arkansas Tobacco Education Initiative, which is managed by the American Lung Association in Arkansas, announced several resources available to help teens and adults quit smoking and vaping.
The Arkansas Tobacco Education Initiative was formed to improve the health of all Arkansans by using evidence-based strategies through program initiatives, promotion of cessation services and recommendations of smokefree policies; to reduce the use of all tobacco products, including electronic nicotine delivery systems, within Arkansas.
The organization offers many resources, training and guidance for residents and healthcare providers, including:
- Resources to Help Adults Quit Smoking:The program works with the Arkansas Department of Health to offer free resources and educational programs for people who are ready to quit tobacco for good. Call 833-283-WELL or visit org for help with quitting tobacco or managing diabetes and high blood pressure.
- Resources to Help Teens Quit Tobacco: Not On Tobacco (NOT) is a tobacco cessation program designed with teenagers in mind. It takes a holistic approach with each session using different interactive learning strategies based on Social Cognitive Theory of behavior change. This encourages a voluntary change for youth ages 14 to 19.
- COPD Conference: Each year,the American Lung Association, in partnership with the Arkansas Department of Health, hosts educational sessions for health professionals on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) management, the Gold Guidelines, vaccinations, and the medications to treat it amidst the current COVID-19 pandemic. The conference is free and CEUs are available for healthcare professionals.
- Vaping Webinars: With youth vaping and nicotine use on the rise, the American Lung Association and the Arkansas Tobacco Education Initiative will host two free virtual youth vaping webinars to address the health risks of youth vaping, how the tobacco industry targets youth, emerging trends, and provide cessation resources for schools. The webinar in the fall is intended for school administrators, teachers, counselors, and school nurses and the webinar in the summer targets parents and caregivers to attend. Scholarships for NOT (Not On Tobacco) cessation training will be available to attendees.
For more information about the programs and resources offered by the Arkansas Tobacco Education Initiative, visit https://www.artei.org/.
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About the American Lung Association
The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy and research. The work of the American Lung Association is focused on four strategic imperatives: to defeat lung cancer; to champion clean air for all; to improve the quality of life for those with lung disease and their families; and to create a tobacco-free future. For more information about the American Lung Association, which has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and is a Gold-Level GuideStar Member, or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) or visit: Lung.org.