ACT Center holds pinning ceremony honoring tobacco treatment graduates

The ACT Center for Tobacco Treatment, Education and Research recently gathered at the Jackson Medical Mall to recognize individuals who have successfully completed the treatment program, honoring their commitment to quitting. 

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, contributing to more than 500,000 deaths each year and placing millions at risk for heart disease, lung disease, cancer and other serious health conditions.

In Mississippi, where 15.6% of adults smoke cigarettes and more than a quarter use some form of tobacco, nicotine addiction continues to take a heavy toll on individuals, families and communities. Tobacco use contributes to more than 5,400 deaths in the state each year and costs Mississippi more than $1.2 billion annually in health care expenses.  

The pinning ceremony brought graduates together with family members, friends and supporters to share in the celebration of their achievements. Participants received certificates and commemorative lapel pins designed by Hontzas, symbolizing both a personal milestone and a shared commitment to healthier lives. 

“Quitting tobacco is not a small achievement,” said Dr. Johnathan Hontzas, director of the ACT Center. “Addiction is powerful, daily habits are deeply ingrained, and life doesn’t pause to make the process easier. Yet every person recognized here made the choice to step forward.” 

Several graduates shared how the program helped them navigate the challenges of quitting tobacco while managing work, family responsibilities and underlying health conditions.  

For Stanley Breazeale, who completed the program in December 2024, the support made all the difference. After smoking for more than 30 years — and briefly relapsing during a stressful period after more than a decade tobacco-free — Breazeale was referred to the ACT Center by his cardiologist at University Heart.

“I decided I needed to quit because I knew it wasn’t going to be good for me, but I kept struggling. But once I got over the hump, I didn’t want one. I didn’t need one,” Breazeale said. 

“This event is more than a celebration,” Hontzas said. “It’s a tribute to courage, persistence and the remarkable power of choosing a different path.” 

Some honorees have been tobacco-free for only a few months, while others celebrated years of sustained success. This was a reminder, Hontzas said, that quitting is not a single moment, but “a series of choices stacked one after another.” 

The ACT Center has served Mississippians since 1999, following the state’s landmark tobacco settlement in the late 1990s. After the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement, Dr. Karen Cruz and Dr. Tom Payne were asked to develop a comprehensive statewide tobacco treatment program, laying the groundwork for what would become the ACT Center. 

“For the past 25 years, we’ve delivered evidence-based treatment to tens of thousands of patients while also training health care professionals and conducting impactful research,” said Brittany Tichenor, a tobacco treatment specialist at the center. “I’m grateful for the tobacco cessation resources available in Mississippi because they give people the support, tools and encouragement needed to break free from tobacco and move forward living healthier lives.” 

Funded through the Mississippi State Legislature, the University of Mississippi Medical Center and the Mississippi State Department of Health, the ACT Center combines personalized counseling, medication therapy, group support and long-term follow-up. Since its launch, the program has helped tens of thousands of Mississippians take steps toward a tobacco-free life. 

“It’s not just about stopping a habit,” Hontzas said. “It’s about helping people build confidence, strength and a new way of living. Quitting happens through a series of choices, supported by science, compassion and consistency.” 

Mary Davis, who completed the program in October 2024, echoed that sentiment. A two-pack-a-day smoker for more than 20 years, Davis said encouragement and calm guidance helped her quit for good. 

“When that last cigarette dropped, I never picked up another one,” she said. 

“You’re changing the trajectory of your life,” Hontzas told graduates. “Every day you remain tobacco-free is a victory worth celebrating.”