Contacts: Elisia Greiner (212) 601-8083
Susan Gibowicz (212) 601-8300
DEBI MAZAR SPEAKS OUT... AS A SMOKER INTENT ON QUITTING
Debi Commits To Quit for the American Cancer Society's 1997 Great American Smokeout
New York, November 20, 1997 -- Debi Mazar has teamed up with the American Cancer Society to join millions of Americans across the country on Thursday, November 20, as they give up cigarettes for the 21st annual Great American Smokeout. Debi has agreed to take this difficult step in the public eye to help lend support to her fellow smokers who would like to make a quit attempt with her.
Like many adult smokers, actress Debi Mazar started smoking at a very young age; she was 12 years old. Her parents were doing it, and all of her friends were, too. She thought it made them look cool. However, Debi can't afford the habit anymore. It isn't a monetary problem. Today, Debi is a successful actress and currently is appearing in the recently released movie She's So Lovely. It is the potential cost to her health and her appearance that has motivated Debi to commit to quit.
"I've been smoking for 21 years, and I'm ready to quit for good," says Debi. "I've tried to quit several times before and relapsed. I started thinking about how I rehearse my lines over and over until they're perfect. My health is certainly worth the same dedication; if I get it right, my reward may not be an Oscar, but I can be smoke-free for life." Debi, a half-pack-a-day smoker, will be using the NicoDerm CQ nicotine patch to aid her with her quit attempt and will develop a personalized plan to help her through the process.
For the Great American Smokeout, Debi will take part in the first-ever "Non-Smoke Break" sponsored by the American Cancer Society and SmithKline Beecham Consumer Healthcare. Times Square, the internationally-recognized center of Manhattan, will be metamorphosed for the day into the Commit To Quit Cafe. This will offer Debi and other smokers a chance to transform the 10 minutes when they usually step outside for a cigarette into an opportunity to learn about quitting. Debi will be available to share her personal story and words of encouragement with others who are attempting to kick the habit on this day. The Commit To Quit Cafe will offer coffee, snacks, live music and newspapers to smokers as an alternative to lighting up, as well as counseling from American Cancer Society volunteers, Commit To Quit brochures and experts in the field.
Even if smokers can't make it to the Commit To Quit Cafe, they can still join Debi in her quit attempt. For inspiration, Debi will record daily testimonials beginning November 7 as she prepares for her quit attempt. The messages will continue two weeks beyond the Great American Smokeout to follow her progress as a non-smoker. These updates will be made available to the public by calling (888) 321-GASO. This toll-free number will contain recorded messages from Debi focusing on the roadblocks she faces, what she is doing to overcome these barriers in preparation for her quit attempt and finally how she is handling her cravings after she quits. There will be a voice mail option for callers who wish to record motivational messages for her, thus creating an interactive buddy system between Debi and the callers.
This year, smokers can join Debi in a quit attempt by obtaining a Commit To Quit plan that provides smokers with detailed advice about three key steps in quitting smoking: 1) Determine why you want to quit smoking; 2) Develop a personalized program to help you overcome obstacles; and 3) Maintain a regimen to help you stay smoke-free. The Commit To Quit plan is available at pharmacies nationwide or by calling the American Cancer Society at (800) ACS-2345.
These programs are important because everyone's quit attempt will be different. It is important that smokers identify why they smoke and what they will need to do to successfully overcome the habit. Last year, research showed that approximately 40 percent of smokers who said they would try to quit during the Smokeout would quit with the help of a nicotine replacement therapy. This year's Smokeout marks the second year that smokers will have increased access to over-the-counter (OTC) nicotine replacement therapies -- nicotine patches and nicotine gum -- which can help them have a greater chance at a successful quit attempt.
The American Cancer Society is a nationwide, community-based, voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major public health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives and diminishing suffering from cancer through research, education, advocacy and service. For more information about the American Cancer Society and its programs, contact your local American Cancer Society or call (800) ACS-2345 or visit the ACS on the World Wide Web (http://www.cancer.org).
SmithKline Beecham (NYSE:SBH) -- one of the world's leading health care companies -- discovers, develops, manufactures and markets pharmaceuticals, vaccines, over-the-counter medicines, health-related consumer products and health services including laboratory testing, disease management and pharmaceutical benefit management. For company information, visit SmithKline Beecham on the World Wide Web (http://www.sb.com).
# # #
RSS