Published: April 17, 2008 11:33 am      

Up in Smoke

No butts about it, puffing at CTMC ends on June 1

San Marcos — Cigarette use at Central Texas Medical Center will be gone in a puff of smoke come June 1.

That’s the date the San Marcos hospital will go entirely smoke-free for employees, patients and visitors alike.

Officials said that before the initiation of the new policy, CTMC will be informing staff and patients about this new policy as well as providing resources, including assistance for employees, patients, or visitors with nicotine addictions who wish to quit.

A six-week program to help smokers quit will be provided to the community at CTMC’s Center for Wellness and Sports Performance. One-hour classes will be held every Thursday beginning May 8 through June 12, at 6:30 p.m.

CTMC officials say water and healthy snacks will be provided. Classes will meet every day for extra support during the final “Quit Week” Sunday, June 8 - Thursday, June 12. Register for these classes with the Center for Wellness by calling 753.3622.

Deidre Jepson, RN and Gary Job Corps health educator, and several guest presenters will be teaching the classes.

They include:

• Charles Reeves, DDS

• Kim Fry, Hays Caldwell Council on Alcohol & Drug Abuse Tobacco educator

• Pastor Chad Carlton, San Marcos Seventh-day Adventist Church

• Al Cairus, MD, general surgery, CTMC

A member of the Adventist Health System, CTMC officials said the facility supports the philosophy and beliefs of the Creation Health principles. Creation Health is a growing, faith-based movement that focuses on the creation, enhancement, restoration and promotion of good health, they said.

To learn more about the smoke-free initiative, including ways CTMC can help support efforts to quit, visit the Web site at www.ctmc.org and click on “Education & Events.”