New Quit 2 Win Contest in Indiana!

We are so excited about the return of the “Quit 2 Win” contest in Indiana. The “Quit 2 Win” contest is a great motivator for people to set a quit date and stay quit! Research shows that the first 30 days is when folks are at the greatest risk for relapse, and the “Quit 2 Win” contest provides just one more reason not to light up! People who use a combination of tobacco cessation medications and counseling may increase their chances of success four times! So, encourage those you know to “Quit 2 Win”!

The contest will offer cash prizes totaling $5,000, including a top prize of $2,500. Once the winner is determined, the prizes will be awarded later this fall. To sign up locally for the contest, people can visit any one of the following locations: Wishard Health Services, HealthNet, Inc. clinics, IU School of Dentistry, St. Francis Hospital, Minority Health Coalition of Marion County and at the Marion County Health Department.

For more information on the “Quit 2 Win” contest and to register go to http://www.in.gov/inshape/2702.htm.

FDA Regulation of the Tobacco Industry

Below is an op-ed urging passage of the legislation that would give the Food and Drug Administration regulatory authority over tobacco products written by Bishop Michael J. Coyner of the Indiana Area of the United Methodist Church.

Thanks to UMC and Bishop Coyner for this timely op-ed in support of HR1108 [the FDA bill in the House] and S.625 [the FDA bill in the Senate]. In the House, HR 1108 is eligible for a vote by the full House, and is expected to happen at any time in the next two weeks or so.

Please contact your U.S. Representative, as well as Senators Richard Lugar and Evan Bayh, in support of this legislation.

If you’re not sure who your US Representative is, you can get contact information by clicking here: http://www.house.gov/writerep/. You can contact Senator Richard Lugar by telephone at (202) 224-4814 or by email: senator_lugar@lugar.senate.gov, and you can contact Senator Evan Bayh by telephone at (202) 224-5623 or by web form at: bayh.senate.gov/contact/email.

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080715/OPINION01/807150324/1031/article?AID=/20080715/OPINION01/807150324/1031

Letter to the Editor in the Weekly Nuvo Newspaper

Lindsay Grace, Smoke Free Indy supporter, had a featured Letter to the Editor in Indianapolis' Nuvo. Check it out!

Welcome

This is the first post in a series of posts about making Indianapolis smoke free and making it an overall healthy place to live. If you have questions about this process or about quiting tobacco or other healthy lifestyle items, please let me know.



So you say; 'Aren't we already smoke free?'

The answer of course is No...

Indianapolis is smoke free in all businesses and restaurants and NOT in bars that do not allow anyone under 18 in, bowling alleys are not smoke free, nor are private clubs or private businesses that do not allow anyone from the public inside.



So now you say; 'Oh, so what do YOU want to be smoke free?'

The simple answer is every indoor public place.



According to the CDC secondhand smoke is the third leading preventable cause of death in the United States, simply put its a killer. So removing secondhand smoke from enclosed spaces makes it NOT a killer and makes Indianapolis a healthier place to live.