The Arizona Republic
Jan. 10, 2007 12:00 AM
Ken Bruggner has smoked for 15 years - half his life - going through a pack of cigarettes a day. Now he wants to quit. Like many who set their New Year's resolutions, Bruggner has a good reason: his fiancée, Sara Lipps.
"I am quitting because I am moving in with my fiancée, and she does not smoke," Bruggner said. "I am moving in on (Feb. 1), and it has always been easier for me not to smoke around her a couple days at a time. I am moving out of a place where I am surrounded by smokers."
The Peoria man, 30, said he works as an emergency medical technician for Southwest Ambulance and sees a lot of the effects of smoking.
"I am quitting because I am moving in with my fiancée, and she does not smoke," Bruggner said. "I am moving in on (Feb. 1), and it has always been easier for me not to smoke around her a couple days at a time. I am moving out of a place where I am surrounded by smokers."
The Peoria man, 30, said he works as an emergency medical technician for Southwest Ambulance and sees a lot of the effects of smoking.
"I am young, I guess, and I still think I am invincible," Bruggner said. "I am planning to quit on my own."
Jose Gonzales, 50, West Valley Hospital's director of cardio-pulmonary services, said nicotine is a hard habit to drop.
"People know what type of damage it is doing but continue to smoke," Gonzales said. "Sometimes it takes several attempts, but it can be done. Just give it the time to let it work. Once they get over the initial hump, 30 to 60 days, they start to feel better. They will taste things better, the energy level will increase, and they will (be able to) smell again."
Jose Gonzales, 50, West Valley Hospital's director of cardio-pulmonary services, said nicotine is a hard habit to drop.
"People know what type of damage it is doing but continue to smoke," Gonzales said. "Sometimes it takes several attempts, but it can be done. Just give it the time to let it work. Once they get over the initial hump, 30 to 60 days, they start to feel better. They will taste things better, the energy level will increase, and they will (be able to) smell again."
Marc Ellis, 41, of Avondale, educates the community about smoking. As a cessation specialist for the Maricopa County Tobacco Use Prevention Program, he teaches several classes in the Southwest Valley.
"What qualified me the most for my job is that I am a former smoker," Ellis said. "It was not easy, and it was a 15-year process. I definitely believe the classes are the way because they keep people focused and give them a sense of accomplishment. The support is the best thing going."
Gonzales said cessation educators help patients, staff members and anybody with proper materials so they can stop smoking.
Annie Diaz, 49, of Goodyear, has just finished a six-week cessation class at Banner Estrella Medical Center. Diaz said she smoked for 33 years, had chronic bronchitis and tried to quit several times but was unsuccessful.
"This is not a New Year's resolution, because I tried resolutions before and they only last for a couple of weeks," Diaz said. "The classes are different because I took control over it and said I was going to do it. They helped me because you have to go in there and be accountable, and also they made me aware of the side effects of smoking. I am hoping this will be for good."
Ellis said 70 percent of the people who start the class will finish.
The classes are free, and participants will receive a 50 percent discount on nicotine replacement products such as gum, patch and lozenge for six weeks.
"What qualified me the most for my job is that I am a former smoker," Ellis said. "It was not easy, and it was a 15-year process. I definitely believe the classes are the way because they keep people focused and give them a sense of accomplishment. The support is the best thing going."
Gonzales said cessation educators help patients, staff members and anybody with proper materials so they can stop smoking.
Annie Diaz, 49, of Goodyear, has just finished a six-week cessation class at Banner Estrella Medical Center. Diaz said she smoked for 33 years, had chronic bronchitis and tried to quit several times but was unsuccessful.
"This is not a New Year's resolution, because I tried resolutions before and they only last for a couple of weeks," Diaz said. "The classes are different because I took control over it and said I was going to do it. They helped me because you have to go in there and be accountable, and also they made me aware of the side effects of smoking. I am hoping this will be for good."
Ellis said 70 percent of the people who start the class will finish.
The classes are free, and participants will receive a 50 percent discount on nicotine replacement products such as gum, patch and lozenge for six weeks.
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