Partners working with the Hispanic population should check out the latest marketing campaign running in La Voz, a Spanish/English publication. The campaign highlights the connection between alcohol and tobacco, outlines health concerns and suggests readers who are ready to quit smoking contact the Colorado QuitLine at 1-800-QUIT NOW.
Here's a sample:
Ricardo travels from Mexico to work in the orchards every
year. He cares very much about his family and misses them during the long
months when he is away from home. Sometimes he goes out on the weekends with friends
and they have a few drinks. Ricardo hopes that will help him feel a little less
lonely but it doesn’t really... He has also started to smoke cigarettes. Smoking
seems to help with the stress he sometimes experiences. A couple of weeks ago
one of his friends got pulled over after going out drinking. Ricardo is sure
glad he wasn’t the one pulled over because now his friend is facing some really
big problems.
What to know about
alcohol:
·
Alcohol increases the risk of many problems. For
example: injuries (including getting hurt on the job even on the day after
drinking), high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, sleep problems, cancer,
violence, sexually transmitted infections… and many others!
·
There are guidelines for moderate drinking in
men and women. Know your numbers!
o
Men: No more than 2 drinks a day/14 drinks a
week AND no more than 4 drinks on any occasion
o
Women: No more than 1 drink a day/7 drinks a
week AND no more than 3 drinks on any occasion.
o
Men over age 65 should follow the same guidelines
as women.
·
No amount of alcohol is ever safe for a pregnant
woman.
·
Drinking less is always better!
·
Alcohol is never
safe under age 21.
What to know about
tobacco:
·
Smoking AND smokeless tobacco (spit or chew) cause
many serious health problems including cancer of the lung-mouth-bladder (and
others), heart disease, high blood pressure, and breathing problems.
·
People exposed to second-hand smoke – especially
children, are more likely to experience health problems such as asthma and ear
infections. Always go outside to smoke and never smoke in the car!
·
Using tobacco causes stress. It feels like it helps
with stress because once the body has grown used to tobacco it needs more to
satisfy the craving.
·
It is difficult to quit using tobacco. Most
people try multiple times to quit before they are successful. Don’t give up!
Every time you try again you get closer to succeeding!
·
Getting help to quit makes it more likely that
you will succeed. Help includes coaching, nicotine replacement therapy (such as
patches) or medications.
The Colorado QuitLine is a free
tobacco cessation program for all residents of Colorado age 15 and older. The
QuitLine provides coaching and free nicotine replacement therapy (to people age
18 and older who meet certain medical requirements). QuitLine ervices are
available in Spanish!
And just so you know… Ricardo decided to call the Colorado
QuitLine. They helped him set a quit date and make a plan to quit smoking. They
also provided free nicotine replacement patches. He also decided to drink much
less when he goes out with his friends and to never ever drive after drinking. He decided that setting a good
example for his kids and saving the money he was spending on cigarettes and
beer were much more important in the long run.
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