Nicotine

Dear Editor: I respect the opinion of Dr. Hempel regarding smoking in public places, but I do not agree with his suggested ban. I have read all of the opinions that have been published by your paper, and as a smoker, decided not to respond, for fear of being accused of enticing others to smoke. Having received so much ridicule for smoking from my family members, I decided to admit my addiction for tobacco openly. I strongly recommend that no one start using tobacco, especially young folks.

When a surgeon told David Robinson that he would lose both legs within two years and die by the age of 50 if he didn't quit smoking, the 43-year-old Danville man knew he had only one choice. He quit smoking. "You just have to learn sometimes to say stop," said Robinson, who works in the maintenance and engineering department at Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center. "I like living too much to continue smoking. " For Tiva Foster, a ward clerk for the Transitional Care Unit at Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center, the decision to quit smoking was spurred by a patient who had throat cancer.

TODAY - Cooper-Clayton Smoking Cessation classes will begin at the Clark County Health Department, from 12 to 1 p.m. Participants will receive 60 percent off of nicotine patches. The classes are free and open to the public. For more information or to register, contact Cara O'Neill or Amy LaCount at 744-4482. - The Clark County Kiwanis Club will meet at 6 p.m. at Vittorino's, 34 N. Main St. The meeting is open to all interested persons. - The Clark County Writer's Group will meet tonight at 7 in the College Park Gym meeting room.

For instance, it is your medical doctor advice - and the Surgeon General's warning - to avoid alcohol, drugs, prescription drugs and smoking while pregnant. These are all harmful substances for an unborn baby, causing problems or birth defects for a lifetime. Each case can obviously vary in severity. Babies can be born addicted to any of these substances. Along with nicotine withdrawal, smoking while pregnant can cause preterm labor and low birthweight. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, where a mother consumes alcohol during pregnancy, has been associated with growth delays, learning difficulties, possible varying degrees of mental retardation and behavioral problems.

Editor's Note: This is the second installment in a series of occasional stories that will chronicle Connie Neace's efforts to stop smoking. When Connie Neace was 14, she would visit her aunt and cousin in Hazard and she would see them smoke. "I thought it was the coolest thing and I wanted to be cool like them," she said. In an effort to become cool, Neace began smoking the cigarette butts leftover in her mother's ash tray. Soon she started smoking whole cigarettes.

Fish fry planned Cartersville Ruritan will hold an all-you-can-eat fish fry from 4-7 p.m. Aug. 22 at Cartersville Ruritan Park, Harmon's Lick Road, about a 1/4 mile off Ky. 954. Adults are $7, and children 10 and younger are $4. All carry-out orders are $7. Everyone is welcome. For more information, or to place a carry-out order the day of the fish fry, call (859) 925-2801 or 925-4433. Health department offers smoking cessation class The Boyle County Health Department will begin its next 13-week Cooper/Clayton Smoking Cessation class Thursday.

Program to discuss senior health Ephraim McDowell Health is sponsoring a free community health education program on "Exercise for the Elderly. " Brian Lanham, a fitness counselor, will present the program from noon to 6:30 p.m. Jan. 18 at McDowell Wellness Center, 1107 Ben Ali Drive. His presentation will include tips for exercises that senior adults can do in their own home. Space is limited, so call (859) 239-2419 for reservations or e-mail marketing@emhealth.

Dear Editor, Opponents of the proposed indoor smoking ordinance in Danville's restaurants, bars and other public places should look at the issue from another perspective. Secondhand smoke isn't merely an irritant that burns your eyes, burns your throat, burns your lungs, and stinks up your clothes. Secondhand smoke is a public health threat. For years, the American Heart Association has reported that tobacco smoke, including smoke from others' cigarettes, substantially increases the risk of heart attack.