As continuing efforts to combat drug and substance abuse in the region ramp up, one local organization is doing its part to help with tobacco session.
Nicotine Anonymous, a 12-step recovery program, is holding meetings every Monday at 7 p.m. at the Carter County Drug Prevention Coalition Youth Opportunity Center, located at 546 East Elk Ave., Elizabethton, for residents wanting to stop smoking or live free of nicotine in any form.
Thad Noto, M.Div., LPC, with Appalachian Christian Counseling, is spearheading the events and added the sessions are geared toward peer-to-peer involvement and a way to come together to drop the usage of tobacco products.
“This is for anybody that is going through nicotine addiction,” Noto said. “Every meeting is open to the public free of charge. The meetings are not a replacement for cessation programs going on in the county, but are a supplement to help people who want to stop using tobacco products.”
Tobacco cessation has been a topic of discussion over the years with the Carter County Health Department pulling resources together to have tobacco cessation classes throughout the county. Along with the classes, a handful of Carter County teens were able to take part in last year’s FACT Summit with local teen Pate Anglin being named a state ambassador. The teens’ part of the organization have been working with their peers to encourage them to steer clear from tobacco usage.
Addressing the issue of tobacco is of importance within Carter County, Noto added, which boasts one of the highest rates of usage across the state.
“Carter County has a long history of involvement with tobacco simply because it was grown here,” he said. “It’s deeply ingrained in the history. While the damages are as apparent early on, steady tobacco usage can provide just as much, if not more problems, just like people battling with other addictions, like opioids, alcohol or other substances.”
Preventative measures are the name of the game when it comes to the CCDP. Having these various classes available for the public are just the tip of the iceberg. The facility is hosting different events, including an X-Box gaming tournament during Cruise-In nights to help give children an outlet and socialize in a safe environment.
“With the trend of e-cigarettes and tobacco products, our goal is show the public the problems these items can cause,” Noto said.
For more information on the classes, contact Noto at (423) 306-3866. To stay up to date on the happenings with the CCDP, community members are encouraged to attend the organization’s meeting — the first Wednesday of each month at the facility from 4 to 5:30 p.m. — or visit the Carter County Drug Prevention Coalition Facebook page online.