Breathing Easier One Day at a Time

On Monday, May 12, 2008, Kerri Anselmo, a secretary at Meridian Occupational Health in Lakewood, woke up and did something she hadn't done in more than 17 years: She didn't light up a cigarette. If you are a nonsmoker, this may not seem like such a big deal, but for someone who does smoke, it was an enormous first step toward quitting.

"I always knew that smoking was stupid and harmful to my health, but it was easier to smoke than to deal with the stress and edginess I had associated with quitting," says Kerri, who began her habit to fit in with the other teens she had grown up with. She lost her own mother to lung cancer eight years ago.

'It Gets Easier Every Day'
The next day, Kerri attended her first Freshstart class, the American Cancer Society's smoking-cessation program, which is offered through the Lung Cancer Specialty Program at Ocean Medical Center. Joyce Cline-Blasi, R.N., clinical advocate of the Lung Cancer Specialty Program, facilitates the group counseling program. The program consists of four one-hour sessions that take place during a two-week period.

"The program not only teaches participants skills to deal with not smoking, but can also help address other issues such as physical addiction and psychological dependency," Cline-Blasi says. Through the program, smokers learn how to identify their triggers, or reasons for smoking, and how to deal with the stress that can accompany the quitting process.

To date, Kerri still hasn't had a cigarette. "It is a daily struggle, but it gets easier every day," she says. "The best part is that I wake up every morning feeling healthier and more refreshed."

Meridian Goes Smoke-Free
The Freshstart program couldn't have come at a more opportune time. Meridian has partnered with the American Cancer Society and other hospitals and health care systems throughout Monmouth and Ocean counties and other parts of the state to become a smoke-free environment by November 20, 2008. That's the date of the traditional Great American Smokeout.

Starting on November 20, smoking no longer will be permitted on any property owned, rented, or leased by Meridian Health. Designated smoking areas outside our facilities also will be eliminated.

"By becoming completely smoke-free, Meridian is furthering our mission to improve the health and well-being of the communities we serve and is setting an important example of wellness and disease prevention for our community," says John K. Lloyd, FACHE, president, Meridian Health.

"Our decision to eliminate smoking throughout our facilities is not intended to force anyone to quit using tobacco products. Rather, our smoke-free initiative underscores our commitment to provide a healthier environment for all."

– Gabriella Heizler