November 13, 2008

Student Wellness Office offers smoking cessation help

The Student Wellness Office will be distributing gum to smokers and telling them about the X-pack smoking cessation program that is a joint collaboration between Purdue Pharmacy, the Purdue University Student Health Center and the Student Wellness Office.

Interested students can pick up the X-pack, which will be filled with information; a list of Web sites that offer smoking quitting tips; and items such as toothpicks, stress putty and chewing gum, at the Purdue Pharmacy in the Robert E. Heine Pharmacy Building, Room 118. Trained pharmacy students also will provide one-on-one counseling to students who want to quit smoking.

On Nov. 20, representatives from the Student Wellness Office also will place fake flowers and Great American Smokeout ribbons in the smoking urns around campus to raise awareness of the event.

As the weather gets chillier, the Student Wellness Office also will be launching a new campaign to encourage students to stop smoking called "Come Out of the Cold." It will help inform students about the different smoking cessation resources available on campus.

The Great American Smokeout is part of the American Cancer Society's Great American Health Challenge, a year-round initiative that encourages Americans to adopt healthy lifestyles to reduce their risk of cancer.

For information about the Purdue programs, contact the Student Wellness Office at (765) 494-WELL or the Purdue Pharmacy at (765) 494-1374. For information about the American Cancer Society, call (765) 449-4799 or (800) ACS-2345.

Writer: Christy Jones, (765) 494-1089, christyjones@purdue.edu

Source: Anne Fogler, Student Wellness Office alcohol, tobacco and other drug education coordinator, (765) 496-3933, afogler@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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