All Nations Breath of Life
Kansas City Indian Center collaborates with Kansas University
Medical Center to provide the All Nations Breath of Life Program.
.
This program is free to Native Americans and combats the following
statistics of cigarette smoking and Native People: Cigarette smoking
is the number one cause of preventable death among Native people;
Tobacco-related diseases and death rates among Native people are
double that of other ethnic groups; Native women are the only group in
the United States who smoke more cigarettes now than they did 20 years
ago; Cigarette smoking is a major contributor of heart disease and
cancer-related deaths, (especially lung cancer) among the Native
population.
Historically, many Indian nations used tobacco for spiritual and ceremonial purposes, unlike the use of tobacco cigarettes today. Traditional and ceremonial use of tobacco is still used in Native communities today. All Nations Breath of Life (ANBL) is designed to respect the sacred nature of tobacco to many Native people and recognizes that not all Native people use tobacco for spiritual or cultural reasons.
All participants of the program will be involved in group and individual sessions. All group facilitators are Native; Groups consist of 15 or less; All educational materials for the program are designed specifically for Native people; Both in-person group sessions and individual telephone sessions, all lead by the same facilitator; Telephone sessions are used to discuss individual concerns and issues related to quitting and staying quit. Pharmacotherapy (gum, patch, or medication) to help an individual quit is available to participants if they choose, free of charge. Family members or friends are asked to participate in some group sessions. Session topics include: Personal journeys with tobacco; Basic facts about smoking and preparing to quit; Coping with withdrawal symptoms and cravings; Traditional use of tobacco; Stress reduction; Weight management while you quit; Communication and gaining support from family & friends; How to stay quit and long-term benefits of quitting.
The 90-minute groups are held once a week for 8 weeks.
For additional information, please visit www.anbl.org
If you are interesed in quitting smoking, please contact Cheree at 816-421-7608 or at clsolomon@kcindiancenter.org