Students in Dr. Maria Elena Hallion’s health and wellness programming class put together an event to raise awareness on the effects that smoking has on individuals.
During last week’s Great American Smokeout, three groups of students held three separate tables of activities throughout the day.
The tables focused on the effects of smoking and methods of quitting.
“There are a lot of students at Cabrini that smoke and this event helped students realize what they are putting in their systems and what it means for their future well-being,” Helene Shapley, junior exercise science major, said.
Other groups had students take quizzes after viewing the posters that had been made. The quizzes displayed questions concerning the various side-effects of cigarette smoking ranging from lung disease and cancer to depression.
“We handed out pamphlets at each table that showed numerous methods of quitting smoking. Some methods included prescriptions like Chantix and treatments like nicotine replacement therapy,” Christine Ingargiola, junior exercise science major, said.
Chantix is a newer prescription medication that helps people stop smoking by interfering with nicotine receptors in the brain.
Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), is available as chewing gum, lozenges, skin patches, nasal spray and inhalers. NRT helps individuals reduce or eliminate the need to smoke. Often times people smoke cigarettes because they are stressed and these types of replacement therapies aid in taking off the edge that nicotine causes.
The Great American Smokeout was a very helpful opportunity for students here trying to better themselves and put down their cigarettes and lighters. Smoking cigarettes makes it hard for one to be healthy and motivated. If one wants to quit, they must have discipline, motivation and support. For many individuals it is hard to quit because there are around others that are doing the same thing.
In the pamphlet that was handed out at each table there was a section that stated the importance of support from friends and family. Support can go a long way to help smokers quit smoking.
“I think the most important thing is just support. I think really in any situation in life, support is one of the most helpful things for people. Obviously there are methods that help people quit smoking but support isn’t a method, it is a humanitarian act that means a lot more,” Amanda Vogel, senior exercise science major, said.
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