Free Smoking Cessation Support Groups Begin this Month

Quitting smoking is one of the most common New Year’s resolutions. Beginning in July 2015, SU becomes a smoke-free and tobacco-free campus. In support of the variety of ways that people utilize to quit smoking, and in recognizing that stopping nicotine use may become more important to the SU community as the approach of enacting the new smoke-free and tobacco-free policy nears, SU is offering free, six-week support groups on campus for quitting smoking.

The classes will be facilitated by Cynthia Cary, director of tobacco cessation at SUNY Upstate Medical University. The program consists of seven one-hour classes in a six-week timeframe, and will cover the following topics:

• Week 1—addiction, brain chemistry and behavior change;
• Week 2—general information and preparation;
• Week 3 (two classes)—quit at today’s class and follow up;
• Week 4—support; and
• Weeks 5 and 6—lifestyle changes and relapse prevention.

Support groups for faculty and staff are being held from noon-1 p.m. in Schine Student Center. The first sessions are available Tuesdays from Jan. 27-March 3 and Mondays from March 16-April 20. The registration deadline for the January class is Jan. 17. Attendance at support groups is considered paid work time.

Support groups for students are being held from 4-5 p.m. in Schine. The first sessions are available Mondays from January 26-March 2 and Tuesdays from Feb. 17-March 31. The registration deadline for the January class is Jan. 16.

Registration for the first group of classes is available now by emailing e-wellness@syr.edu or calling 315.443.5472.

More information on dates and locations of classes is available here.