RIDLEY-THOMAS HELPS LAUNCH UNPRECEDENTED EFFORT TO HELP RESIDENTS STOP SMOKING

 

  NEWS

                                   Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas

                                                                      L.A. County Board of Supervisors, 2^nd District

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

June 15, 2009                                                                                                                Contact:      Aurelio Rojas   213-974-2222

                                                                                                                                                         James Bolden 213-200-5314

 

RIDLEY-THOMAS HELPS LAUNCH UNPRECEDENTED EFFORT

TO HELP L.A. COUNTY RESIDENTS STOP SMOKING

 

Free nicotine patches and gum available at Ralphs’ Pharmacies while supplies last

 

LOS ANGELES - Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas today joined County health officials and the Ralphs Grocery Company to launch a smoking-cession campaign that will involve the largest free distribution of nicotine patches and nicotine gum ever in California.

 

The 30,000 two-week starter kits, funded from the County’s allotment from a settlement of a lawsuit against the tobacco industry and contributions from the L.A. Care Health Plan, will be distributed at 47 participating Ralphs’ pharmacies while supplies last.

 

Smoking is the leading case of preventable deaths in the United States and costs the nation about $4.3 billion due to related diseases and death each year.

 

“The prevalence of this particular problem is highest in the African-American and Asian/Pacific Islanders,” said Supervisor Ridley-Thomas, who joined Dr. Jonathan Fielding, the County’s health officer, at a Ralphs store near Staples Arena to launch the campaign.

 

The Supervisor said “remarkable strides” have been made in reducing smoking in the County through the efforts of public cessation programs.

 

“But we also know that there is still a whole lot more work to be done that will require more innovation,” he said, lauding the public-private collaboration of the new campaign.

 

County residents 18 years of age or older are eligible to receive the anti-smoking kits. Participants will be screened for eligibility to ensure that the nicotine replacement therapy will not conflict with any pre-existing conditions. They will also be required to participate in a follow-up survey.”

 

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