Smoking remains an issue on LCC campus.

Breaking the habit

Wellness Center and American Lung Association advocate smoke-free campus

By: Eder Campuzano

Posted: 11/12/09

The Wellness Center, in conjunction with the American Lung Association, is bringing the Great American Smokeout to the Main Campus for the second consecutive year.

The event's primary purpose is to promote a smoke-free environment for Main Campus visitors.

"The whole point of the day is to encourage people to quit smoking for 24 hours," Employee Wellness Coordinator Wendy Simmons said. "It's a win-win for both students and employees. It'll help cut down on second-hand smoke."

Simmons put the event together. According to her, it occurred on campus a few years ago, but with no real consistency until recently. Her goal is to make the event annual.

"Mainly what we did a few years ago was hand out 'quit kits,'" she said. This year, in addition to distributing the kits, which include items like gum, Play-Doh and other smoking cessation resources, the Health Clinic is providing medically-qualified individuals with a prescription for Chantix, a nicotine-free drug that targets nicotine receptors in the brain and prevents the drug from reaching it.

Another activity tied to the event is a cigarette butt pick-up. Participants will meet in the Building 5 lobby on Nov. 17 and scour Main Campus for discarded cigarette butts for an hour starting at 1 p.m.

The butts will be placed in a transparent container where students and staff will then have the opportunity to submit a guess as to how many butts it holds.

The participant with the closest guess will receive a Nike jacket. Second place earns a $25 TitanStore gift certificate and the third closest guess will earn a $25 gift certificate to the LCC cafeteria. Anyone can participate in the competition, Simmons said.

Drafting major Alan Ayers frequents the smokers' area between Center Building and Building 17 and said quitting smoking isn't as easy as going cold turkey.

"It depends on your level of trying," he said. The only assured way he sees himself quitting is if he's cut off completely. "If my credit card wouldn't work for cigarettes, I'd be set."

The Chantix 101 course will be offered from 1:30 to 2 p.m. on Nov. 19 in the Health Clinic for individuals interested in acquiring a prescription.

Simmons hopes the Great American Smokeout will encourage individuals like Ayers to give quitting another try. And if they fall off the smoke-free horse?

"We always encourage people to try again," Simmons said.