In anticipation of a surge in the number of people quitting cigarettes in the coming months before the new year, the John Tung Foundation (董氏基金會) yesterday announced it will provide professional counseling in the form of online chat rooms to those who are trying to quit smoking.
On Oct. 30, the Cabinet approved an amendment seeking to double the tobacco health and welfare surcharge. If the amendment is passed in the Legislature, the surcharge imposed on tobacco products will be raised to NT$20 per package from the current NT$10 starting on Jan. 11.
Since then, the foundation has received hundreds of telephone calls with inquiries related to the newly proposed measure, such as how to quit smoking, how to file complaints about tobacco hazards and what businesses should do to make sure they are not breaking the law.
Those who have questions can now log into the online chat room for professional advice, the foundation said.
According to the WHO, enforcing non-smoking environments and increasing the cost of cigarettes are the two most effective measures for lowering tobacco consumption, said chairman Milton Shieh (謝孟雄).
Since June, Taiwan has come a long way in following the WHO’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in enforcing smoke-free spaces, but the foundation urges the legislature to pass the new amendment as soon as possible, he said.
“Creating smoke-free environments is the hope of all humankind,” he said.
In Western countries, the number of people quitting cigarettes peaks at Thanksgiving and Christmas; while in Taiwan, the peak is around Chinese New Year, said Chiou Shu-ti (邱淑媞), president of the Taiwan Society of Health Promoting Hospitals.
Chiou and other foundation supporters say they are taking advantage of this time of the year to persuade more people to quit smoking.
“We want ‘no place to smoke and places to help you quit,’” she said.
Several experts expressed concern about the increasing number of female smokers.
“Many women fear that they will gain weight when they quit smoking,” said Heather Lin (林珠), of the Taiwan Adventist Hospital’s Stop Smoking Unit.
Lin explained that the craving can be misinterpreted by the brain as hunger, and that those trying to quit could experience “a need to hold something in [the] mouth.”
Lin recommended preparing carrot sticks and other crunchy fruits and vegetables for whenever smokers feel a craving.
“Make sure you don’t grab a handful of peanuts or bread whenever you feel hungry [from cigarette craving],” she said.
For female smokers, quitting cigarettes is also good for your complexion, said Wu Hsien-lin (吳憲林), a cardiopulmonary doctor and another member of Taiwan Adventist Hospital’s Stop Smoking Unit.
“Quitting cigarettes will increase capillary blood flow, which means your face will look rosy ... Smokers usually have pale faces,” said Wu.
The foundation’s chat room will be available starting tomorrow at www.e-quit.org.
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