Q.U.I.T. (Quit Using Irritating Tobacco) Smoking Cessation Program
Tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of death in the United States, causing more than 440,000 deaths each year and resulting in an annual cost of more than $75 billion in direct
medical costs.
The University of Pittsburgh Student Health Service has established Q.U.I.T (Quit Using Irritating Tobacco), a tobacco cessation program, designed to meet the needs of college students who are interested in quitting smoking or the use of smokeless tobacco.
How does Q.U.I.T. work?
After watching a brief video that details how to successfully give up tobacco, you will sit down with a cessation specialist to craft your
personal action plan. Taking time to identify your own personal
triggers and stressors will result in a quit plan tailored specifically for you. The specialist will also review your options concerning the patch, quitting cold turkey, etc. Your first sit-down takes about 30 minutes. Thereafter your specialist is available to meet with you weekly for 10 minute “check-in” sessions that will support your efforts, provide helpful hints, and keep you motivated. Most participants complete the program in 6 weeks.
Why quit with Q.U.I.T. ?
The Q.U.I.T. program boasts a success rate for participants far above that for smokers who try to quit on their own. That means that if you elect to participate in the Q.U.I.T. program you are more likely to succeed compared to going it alone. Plus, the program is free for full-time Pitt students. To schedule an appointment, call the Office of Health Education & Promotion at 412-383-1830.
Cigarette Smoke Contains:
Tars & Particles:
Clog and irritate the airways and shut down the lung’s natural cleaning system.
Related to cancers of the mouth, throat, lungs, pancreas, kidneys, breast, cervix, and prostate.
The primary cause of chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
Nicotine:
Causes “the stress response” which includes:
Faster heart rate
Higher blood pressure
Narrowing of the blood vessels in the arms and legs
Colder hands and feet
Carbon Monoxide:
The same poisonous gas that is in car exhaust; often used in suicide attempts.
Blocks oxygen from getting into the blood stream.
Starves all the tissues of the body, causing reactions like tiredness or severe shortness of breath.
Lowers the body’s defense against infection and trauma.
Other Chemicals:
Up to 5,000 chemicals and gases that are harmful to your health.
Advantages of Quitting
Making the decision to stop using tobacco could be one of the most important you’ll ever make for your future health and well-being.
Benefits of being tobacco-free include:
Decreasing risk of serious illnesses.
Saving money.
Feeling better about yourself and
becoming a role model for friends.
More stamina for work and play.
Whiter teeth and fresher breath.
Cleaner smelling clothes, furniture, and car.
Freedom from the restrictions of tobacco use.
Tips for Quitting:
Think of the reason you want to quit.
Set a quit date.
Stop gradually or all at once.
Consider nicotine replacement therapies.
Change your routines.
Find a substitute for tobacco.
If you slip up, don’t give up.
Reward yourself.