Georgia smokers can pick up the phone to quit - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

Georgia smokers can pick up the phone to quit

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By Delivrine Registre - bio | email

July 24, 2008

ASHBURN, GA (WALB) - Jetta Sprayberry knows that it can difficult for smokers to nip the habit in the butt. "I had a doctor tell me that the best thing that I ever did for myself was to quit smoking," said Sprayberry.

She is happy that she did. "I felt better after I did. I could do more things I had the energy. My feet quit hurting when I walked," said Sprayberry.  As the Nurse Manager for the Turner County Health Department, she sees firsthand how many still struggle with the addiction.

"I think we have one of the higher populations of smokers," said Sprayberry. Turner County is part of the South Health District, one of five public health districts piloting a new Nicotine Replacement Therapy.

Smokers who call the Georgia Quit hotline will be able to receive up to eight weeks of nicotine gum, patches or lozenges. Callers must be at least 18 years old and can't suffer from high blood pressure. "It's going to be a great program I think," said Sprayberry.

But the replacement therapy alone won't be enough to guaranteed success. Smokers need to have motivation and for Sprayberry it was her grand daughter. "I wanted to live long enough to see her grow up. I said I didn't need the patches, and I didn't need the cigarettes. And it was a struggle," said Sprayberry.

But in the end she says it was worth it. "Your whole life just gets healthier. The people who live around, it gives them a healthier life too because of secondhand smoke." And she hopes that smokers will put down their cigarettes to pick up the phone.

Smokers living in the South Health District can  call the Georgia Tobacco Quit Line at 1-877-270 -STOP. For more information on the smoke prevention click here.

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