‘Quit the Nic’ looks to help students with nicotine addictions
Student holding a Juul e-cigarette while walking to class on the Quad. Juuls contains nicotine salt from the same tobacco leaves found in cigarettes.
November 12, 2019
The registered student organization Colleges Against Cancer and Relay for Life will be hosting Quit the Nic across the campus Tuesday to help students learn more about quitting nicotine products.
According to Haily Stilabower, smoke and tobacco free program assistant and graduate student in AHS, said the purpose of the event is to help students explore the possibility of quitting, whether it be for a day or the rest of their life.
Students will also get a chance to better understand the University’s smoking and tobacco policy, which was recently updated to include vaping and e-cigarette products.
Three posts will be scattered throughout the campus with this information.
The first post is located at the south entrance of the Illini Union from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and will feature therapy dogs.
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The second post is located at the east atrium of the Beckman Institute from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and will feature aromatherapy.
The third post is located in the Activities and Recreation Center’s Winter Garden from 3-6 p.m. and will feature tea making and testing.
If someone does decide to quit at least for the day, the person signs a pledge that states they are quitting the nicotine product. They will also receive a quit kit.
The quit kit will feature information on how to quit, campus resources to help quit, small mind activities and candies, for example PEZ dispensers, which are known as a great tool to help quit, because both the hand and mouth become busy.
Anyone unavailable to attend the events can still receive a quit kit by calling Campus Wellbeing Services at 265-9355 or emailing them at [email protected].
“This day is not to force anyone to quit now,” Stilabower said. “We’re just here to have a conversation with someone if they do, or are thinking about it.”
