The beginning of the new year is a time when many people make resolutions for better health. For those who have decided 2003 is their year to quit using tobacco, The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute might be able to help.
The Kick It! Tobacco Cessation Program is designed to teach those who use tobacco how to quit. The first session starts tomorrow, and the second starts Feb.y 6. The group will meet once a week for five weeks.
“It’s the first of the year, so it’s a good time to have this program,” said Terry Eoff, a wellness and prevention specialist who will be facilitating the program. “People are making resolutions to quit, and I’m hoping to give people the chance to start right away.”
Those who participate in the program will learn behavior modification techniques such as understanding and dealing with urges, and how to reduce stress. The program will also deal with weight management while quitting tobacco.
“Basically, I’m there to facilitate,” Eoff said. “I do a little bit of talking, but it’s their group. I give them information, but it’s a support group for them.”
In May 1988, the Surgeon General of the United States, C. Everett Koop, issued “The Health and Consequences of Smoking: Nicotine Addiction,” which was the first report issued by the Surgeon General that claimed nicotine was addictive.
According to the U.S. Public Health Service, about 20 percent of those who try to quit smoking are successful on their first try. About 40 percent have successfully quit by their seventh attempt, and 60 percent are successful sometime after the seventh attempt.
“A good majority of people (that participate in the program) do quit,” Eoff said. “If they’re there and they pay $75 to be in the program, they really want to quit.”
Lacy Hissam, a freshman in zoology, said motivational tactics probably would not work on her unless she had already decided to quit.
“I would have to decide to quit for myself because I wouldn’t be able to do it for anyone else,” Hissam said.
“I tried to quit in August, but it only lasted about five days,” Hissam said. “Mostly because I was with people who smoked all the time.”
While many people give little thought as to what to do before quitting, the Surgeon General recommends a five-day program leading up to quitting. Steps include telling friends and family about the decision to quit, analyzing personal smoking trends and deciding who to contact when help is needed.
“I call each one of them every so often to see how they’re doing, to find out if they’re smoke-free,” Eoff said. “We talk about how they’re doing. If they’re not doing well, I give them moral support.”
