Stop smoking with free 7-week stop-smoking program in Cleveland

CLEVELAND, Ohio — You can learn strategies to stop smoking during a free seven-week tobacco cessation course sponsored by the city of Cleveland Department of Public Health.

Classes start Wednesday and run on each Wednesday through Nov. 6, 4 to 6 p.m. at North Star Neighborhood Reentry Resource Center, 1834 E. 55th St, Cleveland.

An additional session will be held at the same time and place on Friday, Oct. 18.

Certified facilitators will guide participants through a quitting method that includes free small group classes, personalized quit plans, nicotine replacement therapy, quit kits, and individual follow-up.

Registration is required. Call 216-664-7104 or 216-664-2889. For information on future sessions or additional stop-smokiing resources, fill out this form.

Cigarette smoking causes about one out of every three cancer deaths in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Smoking can cause cancer almost anywhere in the body.

Quitting smoking will improve your quality of life and longevity, according to the U.S. Surgeon General.

Here are facts about smoking and health from the CDC:

Cigarette smoking among adults has declined over the past decades.

Cigarettes and e-cigarettes are the first and second most commonly used smoking products.

E-cigarette use among adults increased between 2019 and 2022.

Cigarette smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals. At least 69 of these chemicals can cause cancer. Other chemicals can interfere with the body's ability to fight cancer.

Smoking can damage or change a cell's DNA, which can lead to the creation of a cancer tumor.

Julie Washington covers healthcare for cleveland.com. Read previous stories at this link.