On Wednesday, November 11, Towson University announced that it will become the first four-year institution in Maryland to become a smoke-free campus as of August 1, 2010. To help members of the Towson University community prepare for the change, the Dowell Health Center will provide free individual smoking cessation assessments and smoking cessation classes in partnership with the Baltimore County Department of Health.
Earlier today, I met with Kate Reeder, a Coordinator of Health Promotion and Education Services in Dowell Health Center. Kate and I discussed the free smoking cessation classes and assesment for TU students, faculty, and staff, and the upcoming 2009 Great American Smokeout event.
Can you give me an overview of the smoking cessation service at Dowell?
KR: We’re going to start offering smoking cessation classes for students in February and for faculty and staff in January. Students can also come meet with me one-on-one for an assessment and to talk about some of the nicotine replacement products available and learn more about the cessation classes.
How does this event align with the Dowell Health Center’s mission to support a healthy campus?
KR: The Health Center is trying to support the campus going smoke-free and to encourage people to choose healthier behaviors. Tobacco is one of leading preventable causes of disease and death, so it’s an obvious area to focus on.
How is TU participating in the 2009 Great American Smokeout, sponsored by the American Cancer Society on November 19?
KR: The Great American Smokeout is a campus-wide initiative for students, faculty, and staff, both smokers and nonsmokers. If someone is a tobacoo user, they’ll get some tips and information about how to quit and learn about resources available on campus. They’ll also be able to have an opportunity to quit for the day. They can hand over tobacco products and we’ll give them alternatives like mints, gum, candy, and lollipops that they can use throughout the day instead of cigarettes or chew. We can also help students who are nonsmokers but have friends who smoke by sparking conversations and helping to trigger that thought process of wanting to quit.
What are the goals of this event?
KR: To increase awareness of the dangers of using tobacco and explain the different options available on campus to help people quit. And to reduce health risks from smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke on campus.
The 2009 Great American Smokeout will take place in the University Union on November 19, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
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