A letter to the editor from the Howard County Tobacco Prevention Coalition

The new year is quickly approaching, and it’s a great time for fresh starts. If you’re a tobacco user, the best thing you can do for your health this year is to make a quit plan. Smoking remains the No. 1 cause of preventable death in Indiana, but deciding to quit in 2025/2026 can dramatically reduce your risk for life-threatening diseases.

Quit plans:

• Combine strategies to keep you focused, confident, and motivated
• Help identify challenges you may face and ways to overcome them
• Improve your chances of quitting smoking for good

A trained quit coach at 1-800-QUIT-NOW can help you create a personalized quit plan and provide free nicotine replacement therapy for eligible participants. SmokeFree.gov recommends the following steps for building a successful quit plan:

• Pick a quit date
• Let loved ones know you are quitting
• Remove reminders of smoking
• Identify your reasons for quitting
• Identify your smoking triggers
• Develop coping strategies
• Have places you can turn to for immediate help
• Set up rewards for Quit Milestones

Free, confidential help is available at 1-800-QUIT-NOW or QuitNowIndiana.com. Make the end of 2025 your best year yet by making the decision to quit.

Together, we can make Howard County a healthier, tobacco-free community.

Howard County Tobacco Prevention Coalition