Media Release

For: Immediate Release
Date: March 29, 2002

MEDIA ADVISORY - PRESS CONFERENCE STATE AND 13 LOCAL SITES LAUNCH QUIT SMOKING PROGRAMS

Contact: Elizabeth Harvey, Program Manager Phone: 401-222-6054
RI Department of Health, Tobacco Control Program

What: Joint Press Conference - RI Health Department announces the first ever statewide 1-800-Try-To-Stop Quit Smoking Program. The Pawtucket Cancer Control Task Force launches a local quit smoking media campaign. Memorial Hospital and Progreso Latino are among 13 local sites to offer tobacco treatment services funded by the Department of Health.

Who: 

• Patricia A. Nolan, MD, MPH, Director, Rhode Island Department of Health
• Mayor James E. Doyle, City of Pawtucket Rosemary Costigan, Chair, Pawtucket Cancer Control Task Force
• Janet VanNess, Director, JSI Research and Training Institute, Boston, MA Joanne Pike, LPC, Quitline Counseling Manager, American Cancer Society National Information Center
• Sean David, MD, Assistant Professor of Family Medicine, Marcia Smith, PhD, Clinical Assistant Professor of Family Medicine, Memorial Hospital
• Jessica Gonzalez, Prevention Specialist, Progreso Latino, Central Falls, RI

Why: The Rhode Island General Assembly approved funding for the Rhode Island Department of Health, Tobacco Control Program to provide smokers with the help they need to quit smoking. HEALTH will launch a statewide media campaign to promote the 1-800-Try-To-Stop Smokers’ Resource Center which includes the American Cancer Society telephone quitline, the www.trytostop.org website, a materials clearinghouse and referrals for in-person treatment services to 13 agencies throughout the state. The Pawtucket Cancer Control Task Force developed a local educational media campaign to reduce cancer among smokers in Pawtucket. Experts in the field of medicine, tobacco control and related services will talk about the tobacco treatment services available and how smokers can get help to quit. The quitline services are available in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

When: Monday, April 1, 2002 at 11:00 A.M.

Where: Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island, 111 Brewster Street, Pawtucket, RI
Sayles Conference Center (Lower Level – enter main lobby)

Directions:From I-95 Northbound (from points South) Take Exit 28. Turn right onto School Street. At second light, turn left onto Pond Street. Go through one traffic light and turn right onto Brewster.

From I-95 Southbound (from points North) Take Exit 27. Turn left at the light at the top of the exit ramp onto East Avenue. Turn left at the second stop light onto Division Street. Turn right just before the second stop light. Go through one light, then turn left at the next light onto Pond Street. Take the second right onto Brewster Street.