Employers have a unique opportunity to help employees quit tobacco, in turn promoting health and safety while benefiting business.

When employees quit smoking, it can increase workplace productivity, reduce the potential exposure of other employees to second-hand smoke and increase health and happiness.

Nicotine addiction takes a toll in a variety of ways. As many people know, tobacco significantly affects health. Studies have found tobacco kills about two-thirds of users. In Colorado, tobacco accounts for more than 5,100 deaths annually.

Tobacco also imposes a hidden financial burden. According to the Truth Initiative, annual smoking-related health care costs in Colorado total $1.89 billion and smoking-related productivity losses total $1.27 billion.

How can employers promote tobacco cessation? First, by understanding that quitting is difficult. If, how and when someone quits using tobacco is a personal decision. Employers can give employees the tools they need to succeed by promoting resources designed to help people quit using tobacco for good. The promotion of these resources is especially important for small and
mid-sized businesses that don’t provide formal health care. The resources are free for Colorado residents.

Those resources include the Colorado Quitline, which offers free nicotine quit medications for individuals 18 years or older and coaching to help people prepare for their journeys to quit, understand triggers, manage cravings and track progress. It’s possible to connect to the Colorado Quitline by phone call, text or email. Spanish speakers can access these services by visiting Dejelo Ya.

Due to the high mortality rate of tobacco users, big tobacco companies target youth to generate more customers. For this reason, it’s especially important to promote free cessation resources to youth using tobacco products. For young employees in need of assistance, My Life, My Quit is offers similar resources to the Colorado Quitline, except the service is designed specifically for teens. Free coaching is available to provide information about tobacco and nicotine and help youth quit. Teens can start their quit journeys by texting or going online.

For a better understanding of how tobacco affects youth in Mesa County and how to protect youth from tobacco, review the Mesa County youth tobacco report found online at https://health.mesacounty.us.

Promoting tobacco cessation resources demonstrates employers care about their employees and their health. Not only that, this simple step constitutes an investment in employees and business operations.

For those interested in discussing these resources or becoming a partner to curb the effects of tobacco use in Mesa County, send an email to Mesa County Public Health at healthinfo@mesacounty.us.

Brandon Gray is a community health planner with Mesa County Public Health. For additional information, call 248-6900 or visit https://health.mesacounty.us.