TRAFFIC

Free smoking-cessation classes to end in Boise

Nampa and Caldwell classes will remain, but other classes are losing their funding July 1.

BY NATE KNIFE - nknife@idahostatesman.com

Copyright: © 2009 Idaho Statesman

Published: 06/21/09

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www.quitandlive.net.

Most smokers know that smoking is a serious health risk. Many will even express a desire to quit, but lament their inability to.

That's what Nancy Caspersen set out to correct when she founded Quit and Live Inc., a company that helps smokers finally kick the butts. But, a cut in state funding means her smoking-cessation classes in Boise will end.

"I had 85 people on the waiting list for the Boise class," Caspersen said. "How am I going to reach those 85 people?"

She's been running the classes with money from the Idaho Millennium Fund. The Legislature created the fund with money Idaho received after tobacco companies settled a lawsuit alleging they targeted minors with their ads.

The fund was meant to provide money for programs that promoted not smoking or that helped people quit. It has since expanded to include other drugs.

"The funding was cut nearly in half this year, which means less money for contractors like me to runour classes," said Caspersen, a registered nurse and tobacco cessation specialist.

The cut in funding forced Central District Health to limit its smoking cessation programs to target teens and pregnant women.

"It was a hard decision, and not one we wanted to make," said Dave Fotsch, the public information officer.

Caspersen, who has been working for 19 years to help smokers quit, has been teaching classes at the American Cancer Society offices in Boise. These classes are open to all smokers.

Quit and Live will continue teaching its free classes in Nampa and Caldwell, where it contracts with Southwest District Health, which has not cut funding.

Despite the setback, Caspersen hasn't given up hope. She is looking for private donations to pay for more free classes.

Nate Knife: 672-6742

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