 Ocean County, NJ -- “When my brother visited this summer and said my house smelled like an ashtray, it was the last straw,” says 23-year Kimball Medical Center Employee, Eileen Daly, RN, describing what motivated her to reach out to Barnabas Health Institute for Prevention’s (IFP) Tobacco Dependence Treatment Program for help to quit smoking. “I knew the program existed. I would always see the brochures in the Kimball cafeteria and take one, but I never took the important step to call until this past summer.”
When Eileen, a Baby Nurse on Kimball’s Mother Infant Pavilion, reached out to Helene Long, Tobacco Treatment Specialist, Barnabas Health IFP, she was smoking approximately one-to-two packs of cigarettes each day. The 57-year-old Brick Township Resident wanted to quit, but was not confident she would be able to – even with the help of IFP.
As an employee of Barnabas Health, Eileen was entitled to eight weeks of free tobacco cessation treatment, free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), a customized quit-smoking plan, and ongoing individual, group and/or family counseling.
The first steps…setting a quit date and identifying triggers, situations where the smoker feels most inclined to smoke, according to Helene. “For Eileen those triggers were time she spent in the car, especially after working a long shift, talking on the phone and when she was feeling stressed or tired.”
“I never even considered smoking during work,” says Eileen, whose quit date was September 9, 2011. “I could last the 12-hour shift, but always knew as soon as I got in the car, I could have a cigarette. This became my biggest challenge.”
With her own determination, the help of NRT and the support of IFP, Eileen is now tobacco free. “I feel so much better,” she says. “I have more energy and a lump I always had in my throat is gone. I couldn’t have done it without the support of the program. I am now free from my addiction!”
If you are ready to quit or just thinking about it, Barnabas Health Institute for Prevention’s Tobacco Dependence Treatment Program will provide you with the support and tools you need to succeed. For more information, or to schedule your free assessment, please call 973-926-7978 (northern NJ) or 732-886-4149 (central/southern NJ) or visit www.instituteforprevention.com.
Date: December 21, 2011
Contact – Public Relations
ltortorello@barnabashealth.org
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