Final 2016 tobacco cessation group program at Center for Healthy Living to start soon

The Center for Healthy Living on Purdue's West Lafayette campus is offering its last tobacco cessation wellness group program for 2016 starting on Sept. 28. In addition, online portal options and individual coaching are available continuously throughout the year.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), tobacco smoke contains a deadly mix of more than 7,000 chemicals; hundreds are harmful and approximately 70 can cause cancer. The CDC reports that more people in the United States are addicted to nicotine than to any other drug.

Debra Crume-Nagel, certified health and wellness coach at the Center for Healthy Living, acknowledges the difficulty in quitting tobacco use in any form.

"Because nicotine is so addictive, quitting smoking or using tobacco in other forms, really is hard to do and sometimes may take more than one attempt," Crume-Nagel says. "That's where we come in. Our programs can assist and support employees who are struggling or who have struggled with tobacco use. The health coaches work side by side with the participants to help them understand everything that comes with quitting tobacco use, such as overcoming cravings, coping with stress, managing weight and more."

The health coach also can help participants determine what over-the-counter or prescription tobacco cessation aid or aids might be best for them. Tobacco cessation aids are covered at 100 percent on Purdue health plans.

The group coaching program will be noon to 12:50 p.m. Wednesdays from Sept. 28 through Nov. 2 in Haas Hall, Room 101. Register for the group program by Sept. 23 by calling 49-45505. Limited seats are available. To set up individual coaching, call the center at 49-40111 or schedule an appointment via the patient portal.

If completing individualized coaching or the group program for a tobacco premium waiver, completion is due by Nov. 11 to qualify for waiver of the additional premium beginning on Jan. 1, 2017. Certificates of completion must be submitted to Hattie Sturgill in Human Resources by Dec. 22 to qualify for the waiver of the 2017 additional premium. Completing a tobacco cessation program can reduce premiums by up to $500 per year. More information on the tobacco waiver is provided on the Tobacco-User Additional Premium: Questions and Answers web page.

Center for Healthy Living workshops are for benefits-eligible faculty and staff and for spouses/same-sex domestic partners covered on a Purdue medical plan. Employees on Purdue's regional campuses can participate via the portal option. Those using the portal programs are paired with a certified health and wellness coach and may expect an initial telephonic visit with continuous support throughout the duration of the program. Additional tobacco cessation options for regional campuses can be found on Purdue University Northwest and Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne websites.

The center is open 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday. Lab hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. For medical consultation after hours or on weekends, contact the Anthem NurseLine at 888-279-5449 for assistance.