{"id":23091,"date":"2025-11-20T08:26:48","date_gmt":"2025-11-20T13:26:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/richmond-city\/?p=23091"},"modified":"2026-05-19T12:43:32","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T16:43:32","slug":"rhhd-encourages-community-to-call-it-quits-on-smoking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/richmond-city\/2025\/11\/20\/rhhd-encourages-community-to-call-it-quits-on-smoking\/","title":{"rendered":"RHHD Encourages Community to Call it Quits on Smoking"},"content":{"rendered":"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE <\/span><\/b> November 20, 2025<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Media Contact:<\/span><\/b> Bryan Hooten, 804-807-1727, <\/span>bryan.hooten@vdh.virginia.gov<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

RHHD Encourages Community to Call it Quits on Smoking <\/span><\/b>
\nThe Great American Smokeout is November 20<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

RICHMOND, Va.<\/span><\/b> \u2013<\/span> In support of <\/span>The Great American Smokeout<\/span><\/a> on Thursday, Nov. 20, Richmond and Henrico Health Districts (RHHD) encourage those who are interested in quitting smoking to seek local resources. Richmond residents can participate in the RHHD<\/span> Free From Tobacco<\/span><\/a> program.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

November is<\/span> Lung Cancer Awareness Month<\/span><\/a>. More people, both men and women, in the United States die from <\/span>lung cancer<\/span><\/a> than any other type of cancer according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer, responsible for approximately 85% of all cases.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) <\/span>Tobacco Control Program<\/span><\/a>, smoking remains the single largest preventable cause of death and disease in the United States, killing more than 480,000 Americans each year. More than 41,000 of these deaths are from exposure to secondhand smoke.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTobacco cessation is a journey,\u201d <\/span>said Richmond and Henrico Health Districts Free From Tobacco Coach Richard Baker. \u201c<\/span>These products are often deeply embedded into a person\u2019s lifestyle, and w<\/span>e want to encourage each client to think more about what they\u2019re buying and using. Our goal is to support people in breaking free of addictive behaviors.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Free From Tobacco<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Free From Tobacco<\/span><\/a> is a culturally competent one-on-one coaching program designed to remove barriers for Richmond residents who wish to quit smoking and remain abstinent from all tobacco products. Richmond residents interested in the Free From Tobacco program can call 804-482-8018 for more information or complete the intake form directly at<\/span> rhhd.gov\/tobaccofree<\/span><\/a>. Benefits clients receive from their coach include:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n