By Steven King

To quit smoking cigarettes, you do not need to quit cold turkey. In fact, you can eat cold turkey on Thursday while you gain information a Get A Membership Site ~ Visual Step-by-step Guide bout the many services UK has which help people quit using tobacco products.

In an effort to help students and faculty quit smoking, UK HealthCare, UK Health & Wellness, Counseling Center and University Health Services will collaborate to throw the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smoke Out Thursday.

Information regarding school sanctioned treatments, including therapy and Nicotine Replacement Therapies will be given out at these tents from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

During the week, free drink coupons will be distributed throughout the campus. These coupons will be good for one free drink at any campus dining area.

Food will be served at the tents, including cold turkey (to remind tobacco users they do not have to quit cold-turkey), s’mores and hot chocolate.

This week marks the one year anniversary of the Tobacco-Free Campus Initiative at UK. UK is one of almost 500 universities in the country with tobacco bans throughout their campus.

Although smokers can still be found smoking, a clinical faculty member with the College of Nursing, Audrey Darville, said there is a “great response of request for tobacco treatment from employees and staff.”

UK Health and Wellness program manager, Jody Ensman said this event serves to reaffirm the tobacco free campus.

She believes this friendly reminder will be a positive way for students and faculty to learn more about the services UK has designed to combat tobacco addiction.

NRTs like gum, patches and lozenges will be offered. NRTs are free to UK students, faculty and staff.

“It’s an addiction and it’s an extremely hard one to quit,” Ensman said. “Health benefits come right away … with appropriate counseling and NRTs we can see great success.”

Fadyia Lowe, the health education specialist with UHS, spear-headed the event and prepared the advertising campaign. She said she hopes students and faculty can see a consistent image that sticks in their minds.

As posters are located throughout the campus, Lowe is reaching her goal.

The Great American Smoke Out is Thursday at Whitehall Classroom Building, Rose Street Walkway and the corner between the Wethington and UHS buildings from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.