- The Chancellor of the State University of New York is committed to making all campuses tobacco free as soon as practical. This initiative was expected to take place in 2014. Tobacco free means no cigarettes, cigars, snuff, or chewing tobacco. When the initiative is launched, it may also include e-cigarettes since these devices lead to nicotine dependence.
- To justify this initiative, the following issues will be stressed:
Respect for others and the campus environment.
Improved health for the smoker since tobacco use is a significant preventable cause of death.
Sustainability: Tobacco refuse is the number one source of litter on the planet.
Social Justice: Stopping tobacco use on campus will decrease tobacco production in poor countries (the majority of tobacco for use in the USA comes from these countries). Children in these poor countries are used to grow tobacco.
- The staff at Student Health Service (SHS) realizes that giving up tobacco products is not easy. The reason to pursue this goal is to preserve your health. We would like to be of assistance during this difficult process if your goal is to give up tobacco.
- Tobacco products contain nicotine, which is an addictive substance. One approach to quitting is by decreasing the amount you smoke to 1/4 pack per day and then quitting. Usually symptoms related to nicotine withdrawal are tolerable if stopping from this level of consumption.
- Another approach is to control withdrawal symptoms with nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). These products are sold primarily over the counter (OTC), which means they can be purchased without a prescription (except for the nicotine inhaler and nasal spray). NRT comes in the form of patches, gum, nasal spray, and inhalers. When using these products you must want to stop tobacco use to be successful. These products will then decrease your withdrawal symptoms. Please make an appointment at SHS if you wish to discuss the use of these products.
- The third approach is to use medication either bupropion or varenicline to decrease the urge to smoke during the nicotine withdrawal period. The staff at SHS will evaluate you for the use of these medications if you are interested in this option. These medications are usually given for a 12-week course.
- Even if you don't plan on stopping tobacco use when you are off campus, the staff at SHS is willing to discuss the use of NRT to prevent agitation caused by nicotine withdrawal while you are on campus. This will help you comply when the new campus initiative commences.
- Information can also be obtained on www.nysmokefree.com which is the New York Smoker's Quit Line. The Quit Line phone number is 1-866-697-8487.