The Middleburgh Central School (MCS) Reality Check organization will be
recognizing the Great American Smokeout on Thursday November 20, 2014 to
encourage a critical look at tobacco disparities and solutions to end the tobacco
epidemic. Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable disease and death in
New York State taking nearly 24,000 lives annually. Tobacco is not an equal
opportunity killer- with the most vulnerable and underprivileged New Yorkers
bearing the heaviest burden.
The MCS Reality Check Organization would like to encourage all smokers, young
and old, rich and poor, to use this Thursday as a day to quit, or a day to make a
plan. Quitting, just for a day can benefit your health dramatically. Just fifteen
minutes after quitting your blood pressure returns back to normal.
Vulnerable New Yorkers use tobacco nearly twice the rate of the general
population. Research shows that the poor are more likely to smoke, less likely to
be successful quitting and more likely to lose their lives to lung cancer. Quitting
smoking is the single most important step someone can take to improve his or her
health and reduce his or her risk of cancer or any other tobacco related disease.
Reality Check along with the American Cancer Society encourages smokers to join
the thousands across the nation for the Great American Smokeout this Thursday.
Reality Check & Tobacco Free Delaware, Otsego & Schoharie Counties are a part
of New York State Tobacco Control Program through SUNY Cobleskill Research
Foundation and is a statewide effort to help people quit and prevent youth from
initiating tobacco use. For help quitting, call your doctor and for support call the
New York State Smokers’ Quit line at 1-866-NY-QUITS or visit
www.nysmokefree.com.
MCS Reality Check members:
Katie McAvoy-Pindar, 11th grader
Cameron Bechtold, 11th grader
Lacey Bartlett, 10th grader
Scott Gray, MCS Reality Check Advisor
C.J. Smith, Program Coordinator for Reality Check & Tobacco Free Delaware,
Otsego & Schoharie Counties
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