CVS Health Foundation, Easter Seals Team Up To Mark World No Tobacco Day With Launch Of New Smoking Cessation Program For Veterans, People With Disabilities

CHICAGO, May 27, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Easter Seals is marking World No Tobacco Day, this Sunday, May 31, by launching a national smoking cessation program to help veterans, people with disabilities and caregivers live healthier, tobacco-free lives. Funding for the new program is supported by a $400,000 grant from the CVS Health Foundation. The cessation program highlights the American Lung Association's online program, entitled Freedom from Smoking, which take participants through modules containing tips and lessons on how to quit smoking. The resulting collaboration between Easter Seals and the American Lung Association will help reach new audiences and empower the individuals they serve quit smoking for good.   

"As we mark World No-Tobacco Day, we are proud to partner with Easter Seals, America's largest health charity, to launch this valuable program to help people quit smoking," said Eileen Howard Boone, President, CVS Health Foundation.  "Our company's purpose is helping people on their path to better health and through this program we are able to extend that purpose to veterans, people with disabilities and caregivers.  We are pleased to bring together two best-in-class organizations like Easter Seals and the American Lung Association to support smoking cessation."

Tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of death and disease in the United States and research indicates that veterans and people with disabilities have a higher incidence of smoking.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, male veterans between the ages of 25 and 64 are more likely to smoke than non-veterans in the same age category, with 26 percent of veterans versus 22 percent of non-veterans being smokers. And, 23 percent of people with disabilities are smokers, compared to 17 percent of adults who report having no disabilities.  According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, more than 42 million Americans smoke cigarettes, resulting in more than 480,000 deaths including 41,000 from exposure to secondhand smoke.  

"We are grateful for the opportunity to enhance the services Easter Seals provides to more than 1.8 million people with disabilities, veterans, caregivers and their families each year with this smoking cessation program through our partnership with CVS Health and its foundation," said Easter Seals President and Chief Executive Officer Randy Rutta. 

The World Health Organization leads partners in marking World No Tobacco Day annually on May 31 to raise awareness about the health risks associated with tobacco use and to advocate for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption.

About Easter Seals

Easter Seals is the leading non-profit provider of services for individuals with autism, developmental disabilities, physical disabilities and other special needs. For nearly 100 years, we have been offering help, hope, and answers to children and adults living with disabilities, and to the families who love them. Through therapy, training education and support services, Easter Seals creates life-changing solutions so that people with disabilities can live, learn, work and play in their communities. For more information visit www.easterseals.com

About CVS Health
CVS Health is a pharmacy innovation company helping people on their path to better health. Through its more than 7,800 retail drugstores, nearly 1,000 walk-in medical clinics, a leading pharmacy benefits manager with more than 70 million plan members, and expanding specialty pharmacy services, CVS Health enables people, businesses and communities to manage health in more affordable, effective ways. This unique integrated model increases access to quality care, delivers better health outcomes and lowers overall health care costs. Find more information about how CVS Health is shaping the future of health at www.cvshealth.com.

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SOURCE Easter Seals

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