Tobacco Cessation Program

In collaboration with Elmhurst Hospital Center (EHC), Queens Hospital Center (QHC), New York State Smokers’ Quitline, and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC DOHMH)

QCC is Tobacco Free! Out of respect for others and the environment, as of August 27, 2012, the QCC campus is Tobacco Free.

Quitting smoking is not easy, but it can be done. Studies indicate smokers try to quit eight times on average before they are finally successful. Remember, ending your tobacco addiction is one of the most important health decisions you can make. So even if you’re not successful the first time, second, or third… be persistent. Relapse is not a failure – it’s just part of the process. Don’t give up!

Quitting is personal, so stop by to design your own individual smoking cessation program coordinated through the Office of Health Services located in the Medical Arts Building room MC-02. We offer the following services to students:

Individual tobacco cessation education and counseling sessions
Stress management
- Referral to the New York State Smokers’ Quitline and other tobacco dependence treatment services as needed.
- NRT products (for students ready to set a “Quit Date”)*

*Through collaborative efforts with EHC, QHC, and NYC DOHMH, a free two-week supply of Nicotine Replacement products, including patches and gum, are available based on eligibility.

For more information or to make an appointment, call (718) 631-6375 or stop by the Office of Health Services located in the Medical Arts Building room MC-02

Resources in Queens

Elmhurst Hospital Center (EHC) and Queensborough Community College Collaboration – Smoking Cessation Program

Monday-Friday: 9am to 5pm, Main Building Room A-125, 79-01 Broadway, Elmhurst, NY 11373 (718-334-2550)

Health Services has always worked closely with the Smoking Cessation Program at Elmhurst Hospital. Dr. David Weisman has come to the campus several times to help distribute nicotine products. This year, Elmhurst Hospital has agreed to expand their services which include:

All counseling and Nicotine Replacement Therapies (NRT’s) will be free of charge.
EHC will provide individual counseling to all students, staff and faculty. Students must be 18 or older to receive NRT. Individual counseling hours: walk-ins 9am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday.
All participants will be given EHC Smoking Cessation Program contact information so they can call with any problems or questions. (Number will be available to those who pick up the patches.)
All participants will be offered follow-up counseling sessions in person (at EHC) or by phone. The call center will be available from 8am to 4pm Monday to Friday. However, those who cannot contact the call center during these times and can leave a message and a representative will contact them.

Queens Hospital Center Smoking Cessation Program (718-883-4208)

Weekly Support Group Schedule:
Mondays: 11am to 12pm Tuesdays: 6pm to 7pm Wednesdays: 1pm to 2pm

All groups meet at the New Building Room A230, 82-68 164th Street, Jamaica, NY 11432
Free support groups to all smokers
Individual and telephone counseling
Free nicotine patches
Free nicotine gum
Information about outside resources

Sites/Apps to help you quit smoking

Tobacco Use Health Effects

Dangers of Smoking (Not a complete list by any means, but hopefully enough to get the point across):

More than 12 million deaths have been caused by smoking since the first published Surgeon General’s report on smoking in 1964.
Cigarette smoking has caused about 440,000 early deaths each year from 1995 to 1999, or more than 1,200 people every day.
One half of all lifetime smokers will die early because of their decisions to smoke.
The economic costs of smoking in the United States each year from 1995 to 1999 were $157.7 billion.
Meeting our national health goals for reducing smoking will prevent 7.1 million early deaths after 2010.
Adults who smoke lose an average of 13 to 14 years of their lives.
Smoking causes cancers of the mouth, throat, larynx (voicebox), lung, esophagus, pancreas, kidney, and bladder.
Smoking causes cancers of the stomach, cervix, and acutemyeloid leukemia, which is a cancer of the blood.
Cigarette smoking causes most cases of lung cancer. Smokers are about 20 times more likely to develop lung cancer than nonsmokers. Smoking causes about 90 percent of lung cancer deaths in men and almost 80 percent in women.
Using both cigarettes and alcohol causes most cases of larynx cancer.
Certain agents in tobacco smoke can damage important genes that control the growth of cells and lead to cancer.
Smoking low-tar cigarettes does not reduce your risk for lung cancer.
Smokers are less healthy than nonsmokers.
Smokers are more likely to be absent from work than nonsmokers.
Smokers use medical care services more often than nonsmokers.
After surgery, smokers have more problems with wound healing and more respiratory complications.
For women, smoking causes your bones to lose density after menopause.
Smoking increases your risk of hip fractures.
Smoking causes half of all cases of adult periodontitis, a serious gum infection that can cause pain and tooth loss.
For men, smoking may cause sexual problems.
Smoking increases your risk for cataracts, a leading cause of blindness in the United States and worldwide. Smokers are two to three times more likely to develop cataracts than nonsmokers.
Smoking causes peptic ulcers in smokers with Helicobacter pylori infections. Compared with nonsmokers, smokers with this infection are more likely to develop ulcers and to havecomplications of an ulcer. In severe cases, this condition can lead to death.

* Information was obtained from the 2004 Surgeon General’s Report: The Health Consequences of Smoking, http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/sgr/2004/pdfs/whatitmeanstoyou.pdf.

What you should know if you are considering quitting smoking:

IMMEDIATE AND LONG-TERM BENEFITS OF QUITTING SMOKING

20 minutes: Heart rate drops.
12 hours: Carbon monoxide level in blood drops to normal.
48 hours: Ability to smell and taste improves.
2-3 weeks: Chance of heart attack drops, circulation improves, walking becomes easier, lung function improves.
1-9 months: Coughing and shortness of breath decrease.
1 year: Excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker.
5 years: Risk of stroke is reduced to that of a non-smoker.
10 years: Lung cancer death rate is about half that of a smoker; risk of cancer of the mouth, throat and esophagus decreases.
15 years: Risk of coronary heart disease returns to that of a non-smoker.

BENEFITS OF QUITTING FOR PATIENTS WITH CERTAIN MEDICAL CONDITIONS

MEDICAL CONDITION - BENEFITS OF QUITTING

Coronary Artery Disease and Hypertension - Risk of a first heart attack decreases as soon as the patient quits, drops by 50% the first year, and continues to fall.

Previous Myocardial Infarction - Risk of another heart attack is reduced by 50%.

Peripheral vascular Disease - 90% of persons with peripheral vascular disease are smokers. All will do better if they quit, and some with early disease will be completely relieved of symptoms.

Diabetes - Smoking dramatically increases the risk of cardiovascular complications. Quitting immediately lowers this risk.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) - Smoking causes approximately 80%-90% of COPD cases. Death rates from COPD are 10 times higher among people who smoke a pack a day than among non-smokers. Improvement in lung function is expected when a symptomatic patients stop smoking. The most important benefit, however is immediate reduction in the rate of disease progression.

Combined Hormonal Contraception - Smokers who use combined hormonal contraception have a higher risk of heart attack, stroke, and thromboembolic disease, especially those 35 and older. After quitting, risk falls immediately.

Pregnancy - Women who smoke are more likely to have miscarriages and stillbirths. Their babies are, on average, 500 grams lighter, and are more likely to die or be developmentally delayed. The babies of smoking mothers are more likely to die of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Macular Degeneration and Cataracts - Blindness from these causes is half as likely among non-smokers than among smokers.

Surgery - Patients who stop smoking before surgery heal better and reduce their risk of infection and of pulmonary and vascular complications.

QUITTING TIPS FOR SMOKERS

Set a quit date – ideally within 2 weeks. In preparation:
Write down your reasons for quitting. Look at the list often for support.
Review past quit attempts, if any; reuse strategies that were helpful.
Establish a smoke-free environment by removing tobacco products, lighters and ashtrays from homes, cars, and other places where you spend a lot of time. Avoid going to places where people smoke.
If other smoker reside with you, establish your home as a smoke-free zone.
If a person close to you also smokes, encourage him or her to quit with you or not to smoke in front of you.
Consider nicotine replacement products and other medications and use them correctly. Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and oral medications such as bupropion and varenicline ease withdrawal symptoms and cravings, doubling your chance of success.
Try to avoid smoking triggers. Alcohol, other smokers, caffeine, and stress are common triggers. About half of quitters relapse while drinking alcohol.
Anticipate future challenges to prevent relapse.
Be prepared for some withdrawal symptoms, including moodiness, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and sleep disturbance. These will be reduced with the use of medication. Withdrawal symptoms usually peak within 1-3 weeks after quitting.
Keep busy to avoid the urge to smoke.
Be physically active to help relieve stress, fight cravings, reduce withdrawal symptoms, elevate mood, and control weight. While many smokers will gain some weight when they quit, the health benefits f quitting far outweigh the effects of weight gain. Exercise, combined with a healthy diet and cessation medications, can help maintain weight. Try a daily, 30 minute brisk walk – or break it up and take 3-4 10-minute walks each day.
Get support.
Tell your family, friends, and co-workers that you are trying to quit smoking and ask for their support.
Get a “quitting buddy.”
Call 311 to be referred to free or low-cost counseling services and medications.

All information provided here was obtained through material freely given by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. For further information, please feel free to visit the website of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

For Staff

Employee Smoking Cessation Program (ESCAPE)
All CUNY employees are eligible for the city-administered Employee Smoking Cessation Program (ESCAPE). Available at no charge, this program is a personalized and confidential service to meet the needs of eligible New York City employees who would like to quit smoking. Support is provided by experienced Tobacco Treatment Specialists in person or by phone.
Please call 212-676-2393 for an appointment, and/or visit the website for further information.
CUNY Work/Life Program
All CUNY faculty and staff - and their family members - are covered within the CUNY Work/Life Program, a voluntary, free, and confidential benefit administered by Corporate Counseling Associates. CCA's team of experienced counselors is available around the clock to help assess needs and clarify options on an array of daily-life issues, including smoking cessation.
Please call 800-833-8707. You may also wish to consult the resources available at www.cuny.edu/worklife (please enter "smoking cessation" in the search box on the homepage).