Category Archives: Tobacco Cessation
The Smokeless Tobacco Truth: its harm is just as sinister as cigarettes
Contrary to what some may think, smokeless tobacco is not a safe alternative to cigarettes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), smokeless tobacco is even more habit forming because it contains a higher concentration of nicotine than cigarettes. One dip contains three to five times the amount of nicotine as one cigarette and studies show that nicotine is as addictive as cocaine or heroin.
Smokeless Tobacco is not here to save the day or your body from harm; it can, in fact, lead to many dangerous health risks and issues:
Cancer
- Smokeless tobacco contains 28 cancer-causing agents (carcinogens)
- Smokeless tobacco is a known cause of human cancer; it can lead to cancers of the lips, tongue, floor of mouth, cheeks, gums, throat, esophagus, larynx, and stomach
Oral Health
- Smokeless tobacco can cause recession of the gums, gum disease, and tooth decay
- Other oral side effects include staining of teeth, loss of taste, and bad breath
Reproductive Health
- Smokeless tobacco use during pregnancy highly increases the risks for preeclampsia (i.e., a condition that may include high blood pressure, fluid retention, and swelling), premature birth, and low birth weight.
- Smokeless tobacco use by men causes reduced sperm count and abnormal sperm cells
- Smokeless tobacco is associated with sexual dysfunction
Save The Date!
- February 17 – 23 marks Through With Chew Week, a week designed to raise awareness of the harmful effects of smokeless tobacco.
- The Great American Spit Out, on February 21, occurs in conjunction with Through With Chew Week and is a day when smokeless tobacco users are encouraged to quit for a day and, ultimately, quit for good.
Celebrate Tobacco Free UND by participating in Through With Chew week and the Great American Spit Out!
As part of the Pursuit of Wellness, stop by the Memorial Union on February 21 from 11 am – 1 pm to learn more about smokeless tobacco and get armed with quit resources such as a free quit spit kit!
Are You in the Pursuit of Better Grades?!…
Are you in the pursuit for better grades?! Well, it’s that time of year again…The Pursuit of Wellness is coming to campus once again January 9th! The Pursuit of Wellness is a game designed for UND students to learn the correlation between wellness and academic success. Students will be encouraged to participate in a variety of existing campus activities, all of which connect to at least one of the 7 dimension.
The Pursuit of Wellness will be played from January 9th – February 27th. Students can complete the game at their own pace by picking what days and what activities they want to participate in.
Incentives will be placed throughout the game for encouraged participation among UND students. Winners of the prizes, including the winner of the ULTIMATE POW Challenge will be announced at the Wellness Expo at the UND Student Wellness Center on February 27th.
Students will have 7 weeks to attempt to receive all 7 WOW’s. There will be several chances to earn a WOW from each of the 7 Dimensions, featuring an activity from a different dimension every day, of each week. At each activity, students will ASK for a Wristband of Wellness, referred to as a “WOW,” indicating that they fulfilled one of their 7 Dimensions (e.g. Red WOW = Physical; Yellow WOW= Intellectual; Green WOW = Environmental; Indigo WOW = Social; Purple WOW = Spiritual; Blue WOW = Occupational; Orange WOW = Emotional). Don’t forget to ASK!
Add your activity or event to the game board.
Submit your application for your activity to be included in the Pursuit of Wellness Challenge. Fill out this event submission form (www.UND.edu/health-wellness/pursuit)and return it to Karina Wittmann or mail to STOP 8365, Attn: Karina Wittmann for your event to be considered. All applications must be submitted by December 14th, 2012.
UND Student Health Services Hours for Friday, November 23rd
Please note that UND Student Health Services will be open from 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM on Friday, November 23rd (the Day after Thanksgiving Holiday) to serve students.
Students can make an appointment by calling 777-2605 or use our Online Appointment Form. You may also call 777-4500. We do our best to work in students who have an urgent medical situation, but it is best to call ahead to minimize delays. Please call in advance if you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment.
If students need care after hours, non-emergency services are available at Altru Urgent Care, which is located next to the Emergency Room at Altru Hospital on South Columbia Road. For information call 701-780-5968.
In the case of an emergency, please dial “911” or proceed to the Emergency Room at
1200 S. Columbia Rd.
Grand Forks, ND 58201
701-780-5000
Please Note: Student and/or student’s health insurance provider are responsible for the costs of emergency and non-emergency after hours care (to include Office Visit and any other applicable ancillary service charges).
Exception: In the event student is a Student Blue subscriber and SHS is closed, an Authorized Referral may be issued. When an Authorized Referral is issued the Copayment Amounts will be waived for Office Visits and Emergency Services from a Participating Health Care Provider. An Authorized Referral does not guarantee payment of benefits. Benefits for services received as a result of an Authorized Referral are subject to the conditions, limitations and exclusions of this Benefit Plan. Benefit payment will be denied if the Subscriber is not covered under this Benefit Plan on the date the services are provided.
After hours care is also available through several local community providers:
Altru Family Medicine Center 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
1380 S. Columbia Rd.
Grand Forks, ND 58201
701-795-2000
Altru Family Medicine Residency 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (conveniently located on UND Campus)
725 Hamline St
Grand Forks, ND 58203-2819
701-780-6800
Aurora Clinic 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
1451 44th Ave S Unit F
Grand Forks, ND 58201
701-732-2700
Aurora Urgent Care 8:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Dr. Cedric Masa – Julie Solberg, PA-C – Dr. Matthew Viscito, MD
2650 32nd Avenue South, Suite D
Grand Forks, ND 58201
701-732-2710
Let’s work together to make UND Tobacco Free!
November 15, 2012 marks the 37th annual Great American Smokeout. The event is nationally recognized and held on the third Thursday in November each year. Started by the American Cancer Society, the event challenges tobacco users to abstain from tobacco for the day or plan in advance to quit smoking that day. More recently, the event has been expanded to promote awareness and compliance with tobacco free policies as well as enhance awareness of quit tobacco resources.
How can you show your support?
(1) Come to the Health and Wellness Hub in the Memorial Union on Tuesday November 13 and Wednesday November 14 to pick up a FREE T-shirt (while supplies last) with a commitment to wear it on Thursday. T-shirts will be given to those willing to speak to TEN other individuals about UND’s tobacco free policy and quit tobacco options utilizing the resources provided to them.
(2) Contact a Tobacco Prevention Coordinator (contact information below) to sign up to volunteer for at least a ½ hour on Thursday November 15th from 11 am – 1 pm. Go to various locations around campus and hand out mints attached to business cards which outline the policy OR hand out thank you cards to those individuals following UND’s tobacco free policy.
(3) Follow UND’s tobacco free policy
(4) Quit tobacco (for the day or for life!)
Keep your eyes peeled for outreach booths throughout the week and the many others supporting the Great American Smokeout by wearing Proud to be…Tobacco Free UND t-shirts!
For more information about UND’s tobacco free policy and quit tobacco options, please visit UND.edu/tobaccofree or stop in the Health and Wellness Hub in the Memorial Union and pick up a Quit Kit!
Mark your calendars for November 15 and join the movement to be tobacco free!
If you have any questions, or want to get involved contact Julia Geigle, Tobacco Prevention Coordinator or contact Emmanuel Adjei Boateng, Tobacco Prevention GSA at 701-777-2097.
Kick Butts Day is Wednesday, March 21st
In honor of Kick Butts Day on Wednesday, March 21st, the Healthy UND Tobacco Free Campus Task Group is taking the opportunity to highlight the tobacco free campus policy and quit tobacco options. Kick Butts Day, founded by the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, is a national day to raise awareness about tobacco use, the leading cause of preventable death and disease.
UND is a tobacco free campus, which means tobacco use in any form is not allowed on university property. Tobacco use is allowed on city streets and sidewalks adjacent to these streets. Each and every UND community member, including students, administrators, faculty and staff, play an important role in ensuring the success of this policy. Here are some things you can do to support a tobacco-free UND:
- Educate yourself and others about the tobacco-free UND policy and quit options
- Abide by the tobacco free campus policy
- Respectfully inform individuals of the policy when you observe violations
- Motivate others to learn more about the policy and cessation options
- For those that use tobacco, choose to use only on city sidewalks/streets and dispose of cigarette butts in the tobacco receptacles located in these areas. Here is a map of UND and city property, as well as to find out where receptacles are located.
We encourage those who use tobacco to take advantage of the following services to help you quit:
- ND QUITS or 1.800.QUIT.NOW
Free telephone or on-line support and free nicotine replacement medications
- NDPERS Tobacco Cessation Program
Up to $700.00 in coverage for provider visits, medications, and counseling for benefitted employees and their dependents - Health and Wellness Resource Office, Memorial Union, 701.777.2097 und.healthwellnessresources@email.und.edu
Free quit kits and resources - Student Health Services, McCannel Hall, 701.777.4500
Provider visits and free quit kits for students - Student Health Services Pharmacy, McCannel Hall, 701.777.3965
Over-the-counter and prescription medications available for purchase
Thank you for joining us in our efforts to promote a healthy learning environment on campus!
