- Starting Jan. 1, 2014, the New Paltz campus will become tobacco-free! This means no Tobacco products may be used on campus. This includes cigarettes, cigars, snuff, and chewing tobacco.
- The staff at Student Health Service (SHS) realizes that giving up tobacco products is not easy. The reason to pursue this goal is to preserve your health. We would like to be of assistance during this difficult process if your goal is to give up tobacco.
- Tobacco products contain nicotine, which is an addictive substance. One approach to quitting is by decreasing the amount you smoke to 1/4 pack per day and then quitting. Usually symptoms related to nicotine withdrawal are tolerable if stopping from this level of consumption.
- Another approach is to control withdrawal symptoms with nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). These products are sold primarily over the counter (OTC), which means they can be purchased without a prescription (except for the nicotine inhaler and nasal spray). NRT comes in the form of patches, gum, nasal spray, and inhalers. When using these products you must want to stop tobacco use to be successful. These products will then decrease your withdrawal symptoms. Please make an appointment at SHS if you wish to discuss the use of these products.
- The third approach is to use other medications to decrease the urge to smoke during the nicotine withdrawal period. The staff at SHS will evaluate you for the use of a medication called bupropion if you are interested in this option. This medication is usually given for a 12-week course.
- Even if you don't plan on stopping tobacco use when you are off campus, the staff at SHS is willing to discuss the use of NRT to prevent agitation caused by nicotine withdrawal while you are on campus. This will help you comply with the new campus initiative.
- Information can also be obtained on www.nysmokefree.org which is the New York Smoker's Quit Line. The Quit Line phone number is 1-866-697-8487. More information about smoking can also be found at www.oxygen.org.au/games.
