For UF employees trying to kick their smoking habit, UF now offers a free program to help them quit.
The Student Health Care Center is inviting employees to take part in a seven-week program that will offer weekly meetings and discounted prices on smoking-cessation medications.
The first meeting will take place today in the SHCC basement from noon to 1 p.m.
Jane Cullen, associate director for nursing, said the idea for the program spawned from the Healthy Gators 2010 coalition. A task force was appointed specifically to address smoking on campus, and a free program for students to quit smoking was started.
Cullen estimated there are about 20 percent to 22 percent of employees that smoke.
"We felt it was time to launch a program for employees also," she said.
Participants will meet once a week during their lunch break for information sessions and group support.
"First and foremost, it is a group support program. Everyone in the program is there with the full intentions and desire to quit smoking," she said.
Participants will receive a discount on prescription anti-smoking medications from the Student Health Care Center pharmacy, and nurse practitioners will work with participants in choosing which medications to use. Along with the group support system, employees are also being encouraged to invite their spouses to take part in the program.
Research shows the success rate of quitting improves when people quit together, Cullen said.
The first program will only take 20 participants, so employees are encouraged to sign up as soon as possible. The program is open to all full-time or part-time employees and other personal services staff.
"Our vision is to offer one program per semester as long as the demand is there," Cullen said. "To quit smoking is a process, and we want to be able to help as much as possible."
