Athens, Ga. – The University of Georgia College of Pharmacy will offer two six-week smoking cessation classes to UGA employees beginning in January.Conducted by second- and third-year pharmacy students under the direction of faculty, the classes are being offered in direct response to a $50 per month surcharge levied on UGA employees who smoke or use tobacco products by Blue Cross/Blue Shield starting in 2011.
“Smoking cessation programs increase the success rate for those who wish to stop smoking,” said Dee Dee McEwen, who directs the program along with Kay Brooks.Both are public service assistants in the college’s division of experience programs.
The clinics are free; however, space is limited, and advance registration is recommended.
Those interested in stopping smoking may register for either Tuesday or Thursday classes that meet from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Kick-off meetings will be held Tuesday, Jan. 18, in the UGA Training and Development building, 315 S. Thomas St., or Thursday, Jan. 20, in the Pharmacy South building, Room 220, Green Street. The subsequent six weeks of smoking cessation classes will continue at the same locations, with students conducting individual and group counseling sessions.
The kick-off meetings will provide an overview of what employees can expect in the clinic, which is adapted from Pfizer’s “Beat The Pack” smoking cessation program. Each six-week session will focus on smoking issues, such as health risks of smoking, reasons to quit, smoking cessation aids, coping with the urge to smoke, handling relapses and maintenance.
Registration forms can be downloaded in PDF or Word formats by accessing the following links: Smoking Cessation Clinic Enrollment Form (MS Word) and Smoking Cessation Clinic- Enrollment Form (PDF).Completed forms may be faxed to 706/542-6022 or e-mailed to beatthepack@rx.uga.edu.Registration can be made at the kickoff locations; however, a spot cannot be guaranteed.
For more information regarding the UGA College of Pharmacy, see www.rx.uga.edu/.