Kicking the smoking habit
Employee Cites Resolve and a Duke Wellness Program for Success
Johnnetta Moore says that if she invested every dollar she spent on cigarettes, she
would own a second house by now.
"I smoked at least a pack a day for 38 years," said Moore, a student account analyst
in the Duke bursar's office. "That's almost $20,000. It all went up in smoke."
Moore, who kicked the habit two years ago with the help of a Duke smoking cessation
program, had tried to quit many times. But she would end up reaching for a pack of Doral
Menthol Lights.
An event that triggered her quitting was witnessing a cousin's decline and death from
lung cancer. Moore took a week's vacation and smoked her last cigarette on Dec. 28, 2004.
When she returned to work, Moore contacted Jason Horay, health education manager
for LIVE FOR LIFE, Duke's employee wellness program. She told him she needed to be
accountable to someone to strengthen her resolve. Horay told her about the program
options, including classes and counseling sessions. He also sent her a QuitSmart Stop
Smoking Kit with a 96-page guide, relaxation and self-hypnosis tape and patented cigarette
substitute with adjustable draw strength. She began checking in with Horay weekly.
"Johnnetta chose the option that best fits her needs, and LIVE FOR LIFE supported
her every step of the way," Horay said. "We encourage employees to take personal
initiative, as Johnnetta did, and to seek opportunities that make it easier to practice
prevention and take personal responsibility for their health."
When the urge to smoke took hold, she would walk around the East Campus wall.
Without nicotine, Moore enjoyed the taste of fresh fruit and vegetables, which led her to
make healthy diet changes. Her once-high blood pressure dropped 20 points, matching that
of her 28-year-old son.
Moore has become a mentor to others. She was tapped by her parish nurse to assist with a cessation program at church.
And the Durham County Health Department has invited her to be trained as a health advocate.
"Prior to quitting smoking, I couldn't walk half a block without getting tired or getting out of breath," said Moore, who
has worked at Duke since 1997. "Now, and two months after quitting, I have been able to walk several miles during my lunch
hour and return to work feeling great."
When challenges arise, Moore said she confronts them, reminding herself that if she can quit a 38-year smoking
habit, she can handle anything. Said Moore, "I want to be a voice that helps to get the message out that life is better
without nicotine."
-- Nancy E. Oates
Working@Duke Correspondent
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