"Staying Quit and Enjoying
it Forever"
Freshstart Program
Northern Maine Medical Center's "Freshstart" Smoking
Cessation Program consists of four, one-hour sessions.
The first session is an orientation to the program;
registrants may choose at this time to continue
with the program or not.
Following are some answers to questions
you might have about Freshstart.
Why Quit Now?
You already know that smoking increases your chances
of developing emphysema, heart disease, and lung
and other cancers. It is a scientific fact that
quitting smoking, no matter how long you have been
smoking, does decrease your risk of smoking-related
diseases and it does improve your health. Five years
after quitting, the risk of lung cancer decreases
by almost half. People who quit smoking experience
improved cardiovascular function which means lower
blood pressure and more energy. They also enjoy
a renewed sense of taste and smell.
How Is Freshstart Unique?
- Freshstart is designed for you, the adult smoker
- no gimmicks, meaningless group activities, or
busywork.
- Freshstart makes maximum use of the smoker's
time. The format is convenient for most people's
schedules, even in the workplace.
- While Freshstart uses group interaction to support
quitting goals, individual situations are given
more attention than group process.
- Freshstart addresses the variety of reasons
people smoke: physical addiction, habit, and psychological
dependency.
- Quitting smoking quickly is the main goal of
freshstart, maintained by techniques and support
to keep a smoker off cigarettes.
What Will Happen to Me in Freshstart?
The Freshstart program is designed to help you
stop smoking and to inform you of the resources
and methods available. Freshstart emphasizes that
smoking cessation is a two-part process: 1) stopping
and 2) staying stopped.The program provides
help and tips on how to stop smoking and offers
techniques to help end your physical and psychological
need to smoke.
Freshstart consists of four meetings which are
conducted as work sessions. Resources to help you
quit smoking, fighting urges to smoke, and addressing
physical symptoms of withdrawal from nicotine are
discussed throughout the course. The program gives
you concrete ways to handle two major obstacles
that ex-smokers face: weight control and stress
management. You will receive a Freshstart book to
review prior to the course. Freshstart reinforces
that YOU are the key to your own success.
Staying quit and enjoying it forever
is possible.
Give yourself a freshstart!
To register, or for more information, please
contact Northern Maine Medical Center's Education
Department at (207) 834-3155, ext. 3381.
