CARTI recently announced it has received a $10,000 CVS Health Community Grant to create an eight week Smoking Cessation program for smokers. The Community Grants Program was created by CVS Health as part of its commitment to helping people achieve their best health by providing financial assistance to programs that are focused on smoking cessation and prevention. The support from CVS Health will help CARTI provide smoking cessation classes to negate the effect tobacco has on cancer patients, smokers and their families.
“The need for smoking cessation classes in Arkansas is compelling,” said Carolyn Garrett, CARTI Patient Resource Center Coordinator. “Arkansas has an adult smoking rate of 25.9%, the second highest in the country, with the national rate at 16.8% and an estimated 5,800 adults in our state die each year from smoking. This has a direct link to Arkansas’ high mortality rate for lung and bronchial cancer."
“CARTI is one of the region’s most comprehensive cancer treatment providers, treating 20,000 patients annually from across Arkansas. Because we are committed to serving the patient as a whole, we want to offer them, their family members and other smokers in the community help with quitting,” Garrett continued. “In order to do so, we have to certify our trainers through the American Lung Association, and this grant from CVS Health is allowing us to do that and then offer ongoing Freedom From Smoking Cessation Classes.”
CARTI was selected to receive a grant through the CVS Health Community Grants 2016 application process. This year, grants were specifically awarded to smoking cessation programs offered in a community setting that are helping people lead tobacco-free lives and are reducing the prevalence of smoking.
CARTI will offer its first community smoking cessation class on August 25 at the CARTI Cancer Center, 8901 CARTI Way in Little Rock. The Freedom From Smoking Classes will be held for eight weeks at 6 p.m. every Thursday through October 13. The classes are free, but registration is required. To register, call 501-660-7610 or email cgarrett@carti.com.