No harm will be caused as long as you don’t smoke in front of your family? As people have gained a better understanding of the fact that secondhand smoke, that is the environmental tobacco smoke passively or involuntarily inhaled by someone, is a Group 1 carcinogen, they start to worry that “thirdhand smoke” pollutants that settle indoors after cigarettes are put out have already contaminated their living rooms, rooms, cars, and clothes. Such pollutants can remain for up to six months and threaten the safety of children the most in families. This may result in children having cognitive deficits and increase the risk of asthma,
otitis media, and leukemia. The Department of Public Health appeals to heavy smokers to stop putting themselves and their children in highly hazardous environments and eliminate secondhand and thirdhand smoke for the sake of their family’s health. The smoking cessation hotline (0800-636363) helps smokers quit smoking to make their loved ones smile more.
As a reminder from Wang Wen-Yan, the director of the Taoyuan Department of Public Health, there is no safe level of exposure to tobacco-related harm. According to a survey of the Health Promotion Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare in 2020, secondhand smoke exposure rates in families in Taoyuan City was 32.2%, i.e., meaning one in every three persons was exposed to the hazards of secondhand and thirdhand smoke at home. Some people have shared their stories about them willing to kick the smoking habit in order to provide their family with a healthy environment and protect them from tobacco-related harm. There is a total of 277 contracted medical institutions providing smoking cessation services in Taoyuan City. They offer professional smoking cessation treatment and education. Moreover, to encourage quitting smoking, the institutions have waived cost-sharing for smoking cessation medicines since May 15 this year (2022), allowing smoking cessation to cost less and effortless. You are not alone in your journey of quitting smoking. There is a higher chance of successfully quitting smoking with professional smoking cessation services than with determination alone.
Starting from July 1 this year (2022), low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) has been included as a government-subsidized item and an examination has been offered to heavy smokers and people with a family history of lung cancer every two years. For information on lung cancer screening, please visit the homepage of the Taoyuan Department of Public Health’s website>Services>Health Promotion Services>Cancer Prevention>Information on the contracted hospitals joining the “Early Lung Cancer Detection Program” in Taoyuan City (URL: https://reurl.cc/NAVjDk).
Smoking Cessation Resources:
◎Free Smoking Cessation Counselling Hotline: 0800-636363
◎277 contracted medical institutions offering smoking cessation services in Taoyuan City. Website:
https://ttc.hpa.gov.tw/Web/Agency.aspx
◎The Smoking Cessation Manual is available for free to people receiving smoking cessation consultations or services offered by the health center in each district.
◎Taoyuan City Governments Smoke Free Website: https://dph.tycg.gov.tw/nosmoking/index.jsp