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According to the 2008 USC National College Health Assessment:
- 18.8% of students reported using cigarettes in the last 30 days
- 60.5% of students reported that they have never smoked a cigarette
- 89.2% of students reported that they have never used smokeless (spit) tobacco
Results from our faculty/staff health assessment indicated that 11.2% of our faculty and staff are current smokers.
Free smoking cessation classes
In support of Healthy Carolina, Campus Wellness offers a FREE smoking
cessation class for students, faculty, and staff. The class consists of
six one-hour sessions and is available on campus. A trained
Freshstart facilitator will guide participants to make a successful
quit attempt. Freshstart is a tobacco cessation program developed
by the American Cancer Society. The Freshstart approach includes
motivational activities, problem solving skills, social support, and
education about medication and approaches to quitting. During one
session, the campus registered dietitian will address participants'
concerns about weight gain. Another session will be devoted to physical
activity, a great way to deal with withdrawal symptoms, reduce stress
and avoid weight gain.
Upcoming classes
Feb
8, 10, 15, 17, 22, 24 (Mondays and Wednesdays)
12:30-1:30pm
Public Health Research
Center (Assembly Street), Room 211
March
30, April 1, 6, 8, 13, 15 (Tuesdays and Thursdays)
Russell
House, Witten Room (301)
5:15-6:15pm
To sign up, call Campus Wellness at (803) 576-9393.
To register for an upcoming class, fill out the
tobacco cessation registration form, and submit it to Campus Wellness via fax at (803) 576-9391 or by e-mailing dowdk@mailbox.sc.edu.
Tobacco cessation by phone
If you would rather speak to a smoking cessation coach over the phone, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (784-8669) through the Quit For Keeps program. You will talk with a trained tobacco who can assist you in your quit attempt. The phone call is free.
University employee tobacco surcharge
The South Carolina Budget and Control Board has approved a surcharge of
$25 per month in health insurance premiums for employees who use
tobacco or whose covered family members use tobacco. The surcharge goes
into effect January 1, 2010. This surcharge, totaling $300 annually,
goes into effect automatically unless you certify to the Employee
Insurance Program (EIP) that you and your covered family members are
tobacco free. To avoid this surcharge:
- You and all covered family members must be tobacco free for at least 6 months.
- You must certify that you and your covered family members are tobacco free by completing the online certification process at MyBenefits.
The Division of Human Resources recommends that employees complete the
certification by October 30, 2009 to avoid the surcharge that will be
deducted in December 2009 to cover the January 2010 health insurance
premium.
- For more information, visit the Division of Human Resources' website.
Campus tobacco-free policy
We are a proud supporter of Healthy Carolina and look to expand the
tobacco-free campus policy to reduce the exposure of secondhand smoke
among smokers and non-smokers alike.
For more tobacco cessation resources, click here.
QUICK LINKS: Body image and disordered eating | Exercise consultations | Massage therapy |
Multicultural health | Nutrition | Physical activity | Peer health educators | Presentation requests | Preventive health screenings | Stress management | Tobacco cessation | Weight management | Wellness ambassadors | Wellness Wheel | Upcoming events
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