In Jan. 2012, smokers will have to light up off-campus when a campus-wide smoking ban takes effect. But students and staff looking to slay the nicotine dragon can find support on campus.
The outside agency AREA Health Education Center, in conjunction with USFSP, will offer a six-week smoking cessation program starting Oct. 10.
“I’m sure it will be challenging for smokers and some may not agree with it,” said Anita Sahgal, clinical director of USFSP’s Center for Counseling, Health & Wellness. “However, I hope that they will take this as an opportunity to consider quitting an unhealthy habit.”
The hour-long classes will be held in COQ 224, every Monday from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. All six classes must be attended to complete the program. A four-week supply of nicotine patches, gum and lozenges will be provided to participants at the close of the program.
The AHEC series is based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs.
Sahgal said a task force was assembled a few years ago to help the campus become tobacco free. Administration backed a proposed smoking ban last spring and the task force recommended offering free classes to USFSP community members who want to quit.
Although the program is managed by an outside organization, Sahgal said students and staff can expect to find the support they need from experienced facilitators using effective smoking cessation techniques.
She said many people develop smoking as a habit after experimenting early on in life.
“I believe many students may maintain the habit due to stress related to their personal and professional responsibilities,” she said. “One of the biggest challenges to quitting smoking is overcoming nicotine’s addictive substance.”
According to a recent published CDC report, nearly 1 in 5 adults (45.3 million) smokes—21.5 percent are men and 17.3 percent women.
Among all adults, smoking declined from 20.9 percent in 2005 to 19.3 percent in 2010. Half of adults who continue to smoke will die from smoking-related causes, the report said.
For more information about the program, contact Michele Holton at (727) 873-4105 or mlholten[at]mail.usf.edu.
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Dr. Anita Sahgal, clinical director of the Center for Counseling, Health & Wellness, recommends a few tips for people who want to find success with quitting smoking:
- Get support from family, friends and professionals.
- Consider all avenues of treatment to see what works best for you (patches, gum, counseling, etc.).
- Be patient with yourself, and be kind to yourself during the challenging process.
- Don’t quit. Most people have to try several times before being successful.
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Photo by Daniel Mutter
