Once again, it is the beginning of another new year. At the start of each year, we are constantly reminded to make resolutions for the coming year. In 2010, why not make a resolution to reduce your long-term risk of illness that is brought on by smoking.

Not all resolutions begin on January 1, but all resolutions can begin to take shape on January first. Smoking cessation is one of those challenges that require diligence and conviction and planning. Saying one will quit without setting a specific stop date or having a support group in place for encouragement, can be fraught with frustration. However, the absence of such a support system does not make it impossible to quit, just not as easy. There are several community resources available to those interested in quitting as well.

When discussing the cost of healthcare, it is clear that disease prevention can have a substantial impact on healthcare costs, as no other factor would reduce healthcare expenditures more than ...