Great American Smokeout Comes to Duke

Even though it may take most smokers multiple tries before they’re able to kick the habit, tobacco users and Duke will get a reminder of the support available to them this Thursday.

The annual Great American Smokeout returns Nov. 20, and LIVE FOR LIFE, Duke’s employee wellness program, will take to the hallways and dining areas across Duke's Health System to talk with faculty and staff about the benefits of quitting tobacco. They'll also highlight free programs offered through Duke that are designed to help employees quit, no matter how many attempts they may need.

“Working toward a ‘quit day’ is an important part of success,” said Diane Dunder, LIVE FOR LIFE's smoking cessation specialist. “Quitting smoking is the easiest thing to put off, but picking a solid quit day helps to prepare for success and can really give you the kick start you need to quit for good.”

According to a 2013 Gallup poll, smokers try to quit almost four times during their lifetime, but the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout acts as an annual event to remind smokers of the value of making a plan to quit. To maximize success, Dunder recommended smokers change when and where they smoke and tell friends, family and coworkers of their intention to quit to build a support group.

LIVE FOR LIFE will set up information tables at the Duke Hospital Atrium Cafe, Duke Clinic food court, Duke Regional Hospital cafeteria, Duke Cancer Center and the Duke Raleigh Hospital cafeteria. Staff will be on-hand at each location to provide information for those quitting or preparing to quit. Events are open to all University and Health System employees.

Employees can stop by for cessation information and to enter in a raffle for a frozen Thanksgiving turkey. All faculty and staff are eligible to also enter the raffle through an online form.

For those looking to use the Great American Smokeout as the first step to quitting, Duke offers several tobacco cessation resources, including a free one-on-one consultation to design a quit plan:

• Steps to Health for Tobacco Cessation
• QuitSmart Classes
• Nicotine replacement therapy at special discount for employees in a Duke health plan

A three-month supply of prescription tobacco-cessation drugs are available for faculty, staff and their dependents at discounted co-pay rates, so long as they're active in LIVE FOR LIFE support programs. Duke employees and their adult dependents can schedule a free, one-on-one 30-minute consultation with a tobacco specialist to design an individual quit plan.

Visit the LIVE FOR LIFE website for more information on quitting tobacco and how Duke supports faculty and staff who want to quit.