June 2019: Volume 1, Issue 2

ARMC Tobacco Cessation Department

NEW-LUNG Newsletter

May 2019 - The Tobacco Cessation team attended 2 health fairs. We bring our materials onsite to give express counseling services to those interested.

This month, we attended the Mental Healthcare Agency’s (MHA) Health & resource Fair. The fair was for the Santa Ana homeless population and their families who are also dealing with mental health. The resource fair gave attendants the opportunity for self-improvement, such as enrolling in adult education classes, applying for staffing agencies, and signing-up for healthcare programs like 1-866-NEW-LUNG. In addition to MHA, we also tabled at the University of California, Irvine to promote the university’s UC Walk event, benefiting on-campus health programs. The event was for UCI’s faculty and staff. They were served healthy treats and received information to health care provided by UCI’s Campus Wellness Program. At this event, we were happy to learn that most UCI staff do not smoke or have quit several years ago. Go Anteaters! Zot, zot, zot…

In May, we helped 350 people quit smoking!

252 Adults Served
98 Youths Served
16 On-Site Tablings Held
2 Health Fairs Attended

Calendar Highlights

June 5 - Eid Al Fitr
June 10 - Men’s Health Week
June16 - Father’s Day
June 18 - Visitor Appreciation Day
June 21 - Summer Solstice

Postcard to My Future Self

Postcard to My Future Self 1-866-NEW-LUNG participants are encouraged to plan ahead to better prepare themselves to move past hurdles during their quitting process. During tobacco cessation classes, participants write motivational messages to their future selves. Participants reminded themselves of their reasons for quitting and what they expect from their future selves. Tobacco Cessation Specialists mail the postcards back to the participants a few weeks after they have completed their class. Below are examples of the postcards participants wrote for themselves.

Staff Spotlight

At the age of 21, I moved from Iran to the United States. I had plans to attend dental school, but it all changed on the first day of a public health lecture.

While attending the University of California, Irvine, Dr. Runnerstrom and Dr. Sami instilled my passion for public health. My enthusiasm towards public health got me a spot in the university’s Public Health Honors program, where I focused on researching Iranian women’s accessibility to health programs.

I envision a world where everyone will receive personalized health services based on their demographic background instead of a blanket treatment.

Outside of my dedication to health, my family runs and owns TORANJ, a Mediterranean restaurant in Westwood. TORANJ encapsulates Persian culture in their food and ambiance, of which I have personally curated. I love serving my friends and family. I recently hosted a dinner party at home where I cooked and assembled an Italian spread complete with cocktails. If I could pursue any other career, I would be an event planner.

I want to continue public health education. I enjoy connecting with the community I’m serving. You can’t judge the individual without knowing the environment of which they belong.

“Quit for Mickey” Group on Facebook

May 2019 - The Disney Corporation announced a park-wide smoking ban, effective May 1, 2019. The new rule applies to Disneyland, Disney’s California Adventure, Downtown Disney, Walt Disney World Orlando, Disney water parks and the ESPN Sports Complex.

All smoking areas located within the Disney Parks will be removed. Guests are not permitted to smoke within the theme parks. Visitors staying in the Disney Hotels will still be allowed to smoke, but only in designated smoking areas. Smoking areas will be relocated to areas outside theme park entrances and away from crowds.

Mickey fans came together in a Facebook support group in effort to get their fellow Mouseketeers to finally kick tobacco by the May 1 deadline. The “Quit for Mickey” Facebook page is a group that rallies behind their common goal of quitting for the sake of their shared interest: their unending love for Disneyland. Members felt like the extra push they’re receiving from peers motivated them to quit smoking or at least pursue other quit methods. In the group, members validated each other’s struggles and celebrated each success. Some have successfully quit and took to celebrating in the theme park. Others have cut down their consumption or moved on to a nicotine replacement therapy.

It doesn’t matter what your reason for quitting is, as long as it is meaningful and motivational to you.

OCTEC ReCap

March 2019 - The Anaheim Work Group, made of 6 organizations that collaborate every 8 weeks to discuss our mission to reduce tobacco use and reduce exposure to secondhand smoke in Anaheim.

This time, each organization shared their goals to analyze collaborative efforts and how to engage strengths across all groups. We reflected upon our own contributions towards tobacco cessation and decided which partners will be best suited to collaborate towards our shared goal.

NEW-LUNG and America On Track’s team are currently collaborating methods to promote the Smoke Free Homes program.

Please RSVP if you would like to sign up.

CALL 1-866-NEW LUNG (639-5864)

Free quit vaping classes are available.

*Must attend ALL CLASSES of 5 session class series.

Participants receive a FREE SUPPLY OF NICOTINE PATCHES.

Funded by the Orange County Health Care Agency/Tobacco Use Prevention Program.