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USA Initially I thought I had taken my job in 1994 simply because I answered an ad and the job was close to home. After I was in the job for about a year somebody said, "so, you took the job because your mother died of lung cancer last year?" I was floored as I had not put two and two together . Talk about divine providence. Yes, my mother had died only 8 months before I took this job after a prolonged battle with lung cancer. She died at home with the incredible support of hospice. I was there and know that she had the best death possible under the circumstances . . . but that it all could have been avoided had she not been a smoker. In addition, my father died suddenly of a myocardial infarction at the age of 54. He was a chain smoker of Camels. My aunt had emphysema as a result of smoking. So here I am 7 years later still finding this work to be extremely rewarding as well as a daily challenge. I coordinate a six town Board of Health collaborative doing tobacco control work for the Massachusetts Tobacco Control Program. My favorite role in this position is facilitating tobacco treatment programs. This past June and January I was part of the first event tobacco treatment retreat weekend in our part of Massachusetts. Working with people of all ages who are battling this disabling addiction is a fascinating and intriguing undertaking. Everyday I read something new on the subject of nicotine addiction or I speak with a smoker who lets me understand their dilemna from an individual perspective. Every day I look forward to going to work and helping someone with either their addiction or helping a young person avoid becoming a nicotine addict. I have yet to meet a smoker who does not want to quit. They may say "not yet" but they still intend to quit some day. I think the Mass Tobacco Control Program is unique in that we not only pass regulations restricting youth access to tobacco and protecting the public from secondhand smoke . . . but most importantly we have not forgotten the smoker. I feel very strongly that if we are to pass regulations that smokers are forced to live with . . . that it is encumbent upon us to help them quit . . . not to make them feel like social outcasts. As we change social norms we must be tolerant of the very people who are the victims of this deadly addiction. The PACT Program is partnered with the American Somoa Government |