Athens, Ga. – Students in the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy will offer free “Beat the Pack” tobacco cessation programs in January to help those who want to stop using tobacco.
Registration is now open for the tobacco cessation programs—one available to UGA employees and the Athens community, and another to UGA students. UGA became tobacco free (cigarettes, chewing tobacco and e-cigarettes) on Oct. 1.
Adapted from Pfizer’s “Beat the Pack” smoking cessation program, the pharmacy students’ program can be used for both cigarettes and chewing tobacco. Sessions will be held once weekly for six weeks. Each six-week session will focus on tobacco-use issues, such as health risks, reasons to quit, cessation aids, coping with the urges to use tobacco, handling relapse and maintenance. Classes also can be adapted to help those who want to stop chewing tobacco.
At each class, trained pharmacy students lead participants through a group program followed by individualized coaching to educate attendees, develop a personalized quit plan and provide the tools to help quit using tobacco.
The non-student program is open to both UGA employees and the general public. The meetings will be held weekly on Tuesdays from 5:45-6:45 p.m., Jan. 13 through Feb. 17 at the Training and Development Center building, 315 S. Thomas St. Parking at the center is free after 5 p.m.
The non-student program is free, but space is limited to the first 10 participants. The registration deadline for this year’s program is Jan. 9.
The UGA student program is also free. Classes begin Jan. 15 and continue through Feb. 19. The six classes will meet in Room 230 of Pharmacy South from 5:15-6:15 p.m.
Both group classes and individual counseling are available for students, with preference to be specified on the registration form.
Those interested in either program may register by faxing a completed registration form to 706-542-6022; emailing a completed registration form to beatthepack@rx.uga.edu or calling 706-542-5328. A PDF of the registration form and program fliers can be downloaded at http://t.uga.edu/PO.
For more information, call Kay Brooks, Ashley Hannings or Deanna McEwen at 706-542-5328 or email beatthepack@rx.uga.edu.