January 9, 2001
TO: CSOSA Staff
FROM: Martina Griggs Johnson
Assistant HR Director for Employee and Labor Relations
As we celebrate the New Year, it is an excellent tradition to make new resolutions or
to start new regimens, which can help us, shore up our lives and strive towards improvement. For those employees who wish to quit smoking, the New Year is an opportunity to consider participating in CSOSA’s Smoking Cessation Programs.
One of the most important public health issues in the Unites States continues to be smoking. Smoking is the most preventable cause of death in our society. The American Cancer Society estimates that cigarette smoking is responsible for more than 430,000 deaths in the US each year.
On August 9, 1997, President Clinton issued Executive Order 13058 establishing a smoke-free environment for federal employees and members of the public visiting or using federal facilities. In Section 4 of the Executive Order, the President encouraged agencies “to use existing authority to establish programs designed to help employees stop smoking.”
Programs designed to help employees stop smoking are in the best health interests of both those federal employees who smoke and those who do not smoke. The benefits of smoking cessation are almost immediate in terms of reduced chances of health complications. Further, smoking cessation programs can contribute to improved organizational performance and productivity.
In coordination with the US Public Health Service (USPHS), Federal Occupational Health (FOH) Division, CSOSA is offering the following smoking cessation programs designed to assist our staff members in eliminating or reducing tobacco consumption:
Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) - NRT is a therapeutic approach at reducing the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. This program provides the recipients with either Nicorette nicotine gum or Nicoderm nicotine skin patches through the FOH Health Unit.
The duration of the NRT is eight (8) weeks. CSOSA will provide the nicotine replacement for the initial four (4) weeks of the program at no cost to employees. Participants will have to purchase the additional nicotine replacement for the remaining four (4) weeks of the program. The cost of this therapy is as follows:
Nicorette nicotine chewing gum - 4 week supply cost is $121 per month, per participant.
Nicoderm nicotine skin patches - 4 weeks supply cost is $121 per month, per participant.
NRT is used in combination with a behavior modification program to provide the best chance of success.
The self-directed cessation program is based upon the American Lung Association’s "Freedom From Smoking"self-help manual. This manual offers professionally written materials containing proven quit techniques. The “Freedom From Smoking” booklets will be distributed by the FOH Health Unit. Participants in this program will be contacted by the FOH Health Unit nurse and asked to complete a follow-up questionnaire and summary form. The follow-up questionnaire and summary forms are completed by telephone contact at 6 month and 12 month intervals. Participation in this program is at no cost to employees.
If you have any questions regarding the Smoking Cessation Program, or are interested in participating, please contact me at (202) 220-5443, or Michael E. Richardson, Employee and Labor Relations Specialist, at (202) 220-5753.