Smoking Cessation
Terps Quit for Free!
The Smoking Cessation Program at the University Of Maryland University Health Center is sponsored and funded by the Prince Georges County Health Department. The program offers the Nicotine replacement therapies of Nicorette Gum and Nicotine Patch along with alternative therapies of Acupuncture, Stress Management Techniques and smoking cessation counseling. The counseling provides listening and reflection to help promote positive strategies and coping skills for changing cognition and behavior to quit smoking. The counseling is based on the American Lung Association’s “Freedom From Smoking” model. The intention of this program is to promote health and wellbeing in mind, body and spirit with cessation of smoking. The positive orientation of this program eliminates the negative responses of guilt, shame and failure and focuses on self-efficacy, empowerment and success. The program is freely offered to the campus community.
How Can I Quit?
Make an appointment for personal or group counseling and the available smoking cessation
therapies of Nicotine Replacement products, Acupuncture and Stress Management Techniques.
Appointments can be made between 10:00am and 4:00pm on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.
Edie is available to speak at one or more of your group meetings providing Health Promotion
information by appointment.
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Nicotine Replacement Therapies
Nicorette Gum
This is a step-down program experienced over time.
The two steps of gum are from 4 mg to 2 mg. This can be helpful if you need oral gratification
and need to be in control of how much Nicotine is going into your body and when.
Nicotine Patch
This is a step-down program over time. There are three steps to the Patch
that go from 21 mg to 14 mg to 7 mg. The Patch provides a 24 hour convenient and discreet means of dosing of
Nicotine.
These two therapies provide a Nicotine dosage that is safe for reducing craving and
allows for reducing the number of cigarettes smoked during a day. This dosage is safe
because it eliminates taking into the lungs and bloodstream tar, carbon monoxide,
cyanide, arsenic, formaldehyde, ammonia and benzene. The tar builds up in the lungs and
makes breathing harder and inhaling carbon monoxide takes the place of oxygen in the
bloodstream.
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Acupuncture
The Acupuncture program for smoking cessation consists of a total of ten sessions.
The program starts with a traditional Chinese medicine evaluation. Based on this
evaluation a uniquely personal treatment is administered. The treatment technique uses
very thin needles of varying lengths inserted into selected points of the body to help
balance the body’s energy. In addition, a specialized auricular (ear) treatment is administered
which specifically addresses addictions by detoxing and curbing cravings. Acupressure
is taught so that the client can practice every day between weekly treatments to curb
desire to smoke.
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Stress Management Techniques
The techniques taught to help delay and/or eliminate the smoking of a cigarette in
any given moment are Diaphragmatic Breathing, Progressive Muscle Relaxation, Guided
Imagery/Meditation and Hand Massage. Once learned, practiced and owned as a tool for
acquiring relaxation they become a pathway for better health. These techniques are
taught along with using music and a bio-feedback tool that records the evidence of a
chemical change in the body and ultimately in the mind and spirit in that moment.
We are a walking chemistry set that is set into action by events in our lives and by
our emotions. Research has shown that using these techniques on a daily basis will
promote health and wellbeing through better chemistry initiated by relaxation.
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Goals of the Program
- To empower each client to quit smoking through the use of free Smoking Cessation
Counseling, Nicotine Replacement Therapy, Acupuncture, or Stress Management.
- To have a smoke-free University of Maryland College Park Campus.
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Quick Facts About Quitting Smoking
Resources fo Quitting Smoking
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