Student Smoking Cessation Program
Mission
Health Services is committed to improving health on the college campus by normalizing non-smoking, fostering healthier policies, supporting quitters, and providing education.
It is a myth that college students don’t want to quit smoking. By the time college students have become regular half-pack to one- pack- per- day smokers, many are often disenchanted with smoking. The majority of college smokers are ready to quit. 70% of smokers would quit right now if they thought they could be successful and an even larger number want to quit before graduation. But quitting is extremely difficult. Our goal at Health Services is to build the right cessation support system and to offer help in user-friendly ways. If this is accomplished, smokers will come.
Health Services offers tobacco cessation support to all students who have the desire to quit smoking. Students may call to schedule an appointment for these services. During the initial visit, students receive counseling, and information on the smoking cessation medications available in the program including: Zyban, Nicoderm C.Q., Commit Lozenges, and Chantix.
If the student decides to use medication, a prescription is written. Chestertown Pharmacy, a local pharmacy located on High Street, fills the prescription. Medications are free of charge, paid for by the Maryland Cigarette Restitution grant. Health Services and the Kent County Health Department jointly write proposals, plan and administer this grant. The students are asked to return in two weeks for evaluation, another prescription, and additional counseling. The Students also receive quit smoking kits and educational pamphlets.
"Kickin Butts," a student advocacy group assists with smoking cessation activities on campus. Their goals include one campus wide social norm activity each semester, creating publicity ideas to advertise the tobacco cessation program, assisting with educational programs and with policy change. Students interested in participating with “Kickin Butts” should call Carol Thornton R.N., at extension 7261.
Cessation Resources
*Interactive CD-ROM
- “Journey of a Lifetime” (Designed for use by individual students in their quest to be smoke-free.)
Books available for loan
- Quitting Smoking For Dummies by David Brizer M.D.
- No Butts About It –How to Want to Stop Smoking by John Randolph Parker
Online Free Cessation Sites
- www.quitnet.com (This site features quizzes, information, life and money saved calculator and support from others trying to quit.)
- www.SmokingStopsHere.com (This site is offered by the state of Maryland.)
- www.trytostop.org (This is an interactive quiz wizard offered by the Massachusetts Department of Health
- www.stop-tabac.ch (Based on your answers to a questionnaire, the student will receive a personalized report in 10 seconds in the language of their choice.)
Pharmaceutical Company sites
- www.zyban.com
- www.nicoderm.com
- www.nicorette.com
- www.commitlozenge.com
- www.committedquitters.com
- www.chantix.com
- www.whyquit.com/ (Quitting cold turkey, no medications.)
- www.nstep.org/nstep.shtml (National Spit Tobacco Education Program.)
Come and check out our program. Make your future tobacco-free!
Carol Thornton R.N. Tobacco Cessation and Education Program Coordinator
Washington College Health Services (phone ext. 7261)