Free Online Quit Smoking Program Helps People With New Year's Resolutions

American Lung Association's Freedom From Smoking® Online Program Provides Support Via the Internet -


With New Year's resolutions in mind for many people across the country, there's no time like the present to join the 46
million Americans who have already become quitters. The American Lung Association's gold standard Freedom From Smoking®
Online program offers free, 24 hour, 7 days a week support for smokers who want to quit. More than 100,000 members along with
qualified mentors support each other via message boards and e-newsletters making it easier than ever to take the first step
in becoming smoke free. Smoking, the number one preventable cause of death in the United States, claims the lives of over
440,000 Americans each year and is the number one cause of lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).



Quitting smoking is a difficult task and often requires several attempts before staying smoke free for good. "Quitting
smoking is a two-step process that includes overcoming the physical addiction to nicotine and breaking the smoking habit,"
says Dr. Norman Edelman, medical consultant for the American Lung Association and vice president for Health Sciences and
professor of medicine at SUNY Stony Brook University. "Research has shown that smokers who use some form of nicotine
replacement therapy and participate in a behavior change program like Freedom From Smoking® Online can double their chances
of quitting for good."


The American Lung Association's Freedom From Smoking® Online program addresses psychological and behavioral addictions to
smoking and strategies for coping with urges to smoke. Increased blood circulation and lung function as well as decreased
chances of a heart attack and lower blood pressure are just a few good reasons to quit. The benefits of quitting smoking to
ones health are infinite and cessation at any age can help. The life expectancy among smokers who quit at age 35 exceeds that
of continuing smokers by 6.9 to 8.5 years for men and 6.1 to 7.7 years for women. Smokers who quit at younger ages realize
greater life extensions. Smoking cessation represents the single most important step that smokers can take to better the
length and quality of their lives.


"Quitting is not easy, but getting help is," says Mim Drew, a Freedom From Smoking® Online alumni. "It was good to know that
I had the support of others going through the same process and experiencing the same ups and downs. It really was key in
helping me become smoke free and stay smoke free."


Public Service Announcements for the American Lung Association Freedom From Smoking® Online program featuring Carol Burnett
are available for print and broadcast media. Burnett lost her daughter, Carrie Hamilton, to lung cancer at the young age of
38. Hamilton was a longtime smoker. Click here
for the American Lung Association Multimedia Library and to download the Carol Burnett PSA. For more information about the
Freedom From Smoking® Online program log onto lungusa or
call 1-800-LUNG-USA.


About the American Lung Association:


For 100 years, the American Lung Association has been the lead organization working to prevent lung disease and promote lung
health. Lung disease death rates continue to increase while other leading causes of death have declined.


The American Lung Association funds vital research on the causes of and treatments for lung disease. With the generous
support of the public, the American Lung Association is "Improving life, one breath at a time."


For more information about the American Lung Association or to support the work it does, call
1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872) or log on to lungusa.