Free classes offered to help people stop smoking

Free classes to help people stop smoking through a 13-week program are being offered in October. The next class begins at noon Thursday in the Kyle Pratt room of Sts. Mary & Elizabeth Hospital, 1850 Bluegrass Ave., according to a city news release. The classes will use the Cooper/Clayton method, with includes weekly support group meetings for 13 weeks, combined with the use of nicotine replacement products such as gum and patches.

 The class participants will get free weekly supplies of nicotine replacement products, and also free educational materials, according to the city news release. Two more classes begin Oct. 8 — at 5 p.m. at the Bates Community Development Cooperation, 1228 S. Jackson St., and at 7 p.m. at the Rowan Place Apartments, 2132 Rowan St., the news release said. The classes are sponsored by the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness, the Kentucky Cancer Program and other groups, the news release said.