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<br /> Mar 10 08 10:21a Cara Sadira 1-866.8257496 p.1 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Tobacco Education & Assistance Program <br /> <br /> <br /> eue nriv ~ .tssrsi <br /> <br /> JOROGRAl~ J i) <br /> www.kickthenic.net or) 3 <br /> <br /> Providing Free "Quit Smokng"Groups and tmerventim Training to Health Care Providers on Hawafl,Islmrd H r7; <br /> A proRram of Community Links Hawaii cz~ <br /> March 10, 2008 ri r. i+ <br /> Re: Support Letter for Bill 224 <br /> <br /> Aloha County Council Members, t <br /> <br /> My name is Cara Sadira, and I am a Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist. I run the Tobacco <br /> Education & Assistance Program. I am writing to express my full support of regulating smoking on <br /> beaches. I am in support of this proposed legislation out of concern for the smokers that I help to quit <br /> smoking. <br /> <br /> Current medical research has proven that smoking is NOT a habit; it is an addictive drug, absorbed by <br /> the brain that makes the brain completely dependent. The brain changes that occur from nicotine <br /> addiction do not go away. The brain remains permanently altered. For this "son, it is incredibly <br /> difficult for smokers to quit smoking, for good. Relapse is often part of a smoker's life. To allow this <br /> addictive drug to freely circulate through the air in public parks and beaches seriously affects the lives <br /> of people who have gone through the incredibly difficult process of quitting smoking. While at the <br /> park or beach, they are involuntarily exposed to the very addictive drug that they have worked so hard <br /> to purge from their system. Once this drug again enters the system, the brain again conducts processes <br /> in the manner of addiction (as the brain has already been altered from the original smoking addiction). <br /> It is absolutely a consideration that ex-smokers in contact with tobacco smoke may be triggered to <br /> again take up smoking, and again become addicted to this dangerous drug that claims 460,000 lives <br /> annually in the U.S. For smokers, it is not a matter of dying from smoking; they all know that they will <br /> die some-day. They are mostly concerned with the quality of life before they die. They are concerned <br /> that they will be gasping for air, unable to breathe, with lungs collapsing from abuse, dependent upon <br /> an oxygen tank, and unfortunately, cigarettes for proper brain and bodily function. They are also <br /> concerned with the hold that the addiction has over them. They must have cigarettes in hand. They <br /> must spend their hand-earned money, and they must engage in a process that they know is dangerous <br /> for their health, just to have normal brain function. <br /> On behalf of all of the smokers that I personally have worked very hard to help to quit, I am in strong <br /> support of banning this dangerous addictive substance from all public parks and beaches. <br /> <br /> Tjn~nk you, <br /> <br /> a a Sadira <br /> Cunlact Cara Sadin, Certified rohao Treannent Spccialisi ` Phone: (808) 557-4838 ' Fax: 1-866-8257496 <br /> e-mail cararkickthenic.nct ' Address: P.O. Box 2087, Keuau. Bt 96749 <br /> Gomm. Nix I <br /> Ref. To- t seiw- <br /> Ref. Dote Mhp_ 19. n <br />