UHC helps smokers take steps to kick habit

A colorful booth sat in the Nebraska Union yesterday, inviting smokers and other tobacco users to walk by and see firsthand what their habit was doing to their bodies.

The University Health Center designed the booth in observance of the Great American Smokeout, an annual event that falls on the third Thursday of November. The day was established by the American Cancer Society in 1976 and encourages smokers nationwide to set a goal toward quitting, whether for the day, the week or their entire lives.

Although the UHC's event did not directly involve goal-setting, it did provide incentives and information to aid or initiate the process.

The booth featured six different interactive tools, in addition to numerous brochures and informational documents. A giant "cigarette action display," for example, displayed the benefits of quitting smoking in stages, detailing the body's regenerative process after being smoke-free for one day, one week, one year and so forth. A mock-up of a human face allowed participants to peel back layers and reveal the harmful skin effects, from wrinkles and discoloration to increased oils.

"The 3-D display asks students to face the facts. Smoking is ugly," said Debra Henderson, a wellness educator in the health education department of UHC. "You can lecture, but many times people won't listen. A demonstration can be worth a thousand words."

Participants also received either a "Quitting Smoking Kit" or a "Quitting Chewing Kit," depending on their habit. The smoking kit contained toothpaste, a pack of gum, educational brochures, a stress ball, a wristband "as a reminder" and a package of Certs mints.

"When you quit, you can have a dry throat. The mints can help, and gives (ex-smokers) something to put in their mouths," Henderson said.

The chewing kits contained similar items with the addition of dental floss, a toothbrush and toothpicks.

Despite enjoying the free dental hygiene items, sophomore business major Kyle Curry came away from the booth feeling slightly confused.

"I felt like I was getting mixed messages. On the one hand, they kept showing us how much smoking would damage the body, but they also kept talking about how good the body is at regenerating itself," he said.

Collin Pietz, a junior English major, doubted the effectiveness of the day's events.

"If you choose to smoke, no one is going to sway you," he said. "Quitting has to be a personal choice. But it is nice to provide the information for people."

Henderson acknowledged that quitting was indeed personal and too great a process to be decided upon in one day; the event merely intended to provide support and information for those who were already considering it.

"We're there to support and encourage anyone who is wanting to quit or thinking about it. Quitting is a process that takes several phases. You have to prepare for it," Henderson said. "We understand that, and we're there to support or encourage anyone."

Still, the Great American Smokeout has been observed by individuals and companies for decades now, and it will continue to provide encouragement to all smokers who choose to quit in the future.

"Quitting smoking is the greatest single step you can take to improving your health, whatever your health concerns are," Henderson said. "Our purpose is to educate people on importance of taking that first step."
iansacks@dailynebraskan.com