Kicking the Habit
June 10, 2015 – Small Business Growth Alliance (SBGA) Sponsors Program to Help People Live Healthier Lives with Smoking Cessation Program
The amount of cigarette smokers in the United States may have declined approximately 3.1% over the past 8 years, but still nearly 1 in 5 American adults currently smoke cigarettes. While 68.8% of smokers report that they want to stop smoking completely, freeing themselves from a nicotine addiction can be an uphill battle. For the second year in a row, the Small Business Growth Alliance (SBGA) is sponsoring a program to lend a helping hand to kick the habit and stop smoking for good.
“Quitting smoking is one of the most important, yet incredibly difficult things people can do for themselves to live a longer and healthier life,” commented Nathan Jurczyk, Vice President of SBGA. “We are excited to help our team members make this change by offering our free smoking cessation program another year in a row.”
The smoking cessation program runs for five weeks during which SBGA team members meet and build support for each other to drop the habit. After each session, each member receives a free supply of nicotine patches to help make the transition to a smoke-free life easier.
“Our team members are part of our family, and their health and wellbeing mean a lot to us,” Bob Parisi, Senior Vice President of SBGA stated. “Trying to kick any habit is a choice and a big step, and I’m incredibly proud of the individuals who have chosen to live a healthier lifestyle. Nothing is more rewarding that hearing people tell us ‘that program has changed my life.’”
Individuals who quit smoking lower their risk for cancer, heart disease, stroke, respiratory diseases, and lung diseases. The Smoking Cessation program is open to all employees and runs through the end of June.