 Select tobacco cessation prescription drugs are now
available to eligible Duke faculty and staff
at no cost for up to a
three-month supply.
Remember how hard it was to quit smoking or using tobacco? Share your story with others and inspire them to quit.
LIVE FOR LIFE is recruiting former tobacco users and other Duke employees to
share their experiences with others and
to celebrate being tobacco-free during Tobacco Independence Week (July 2-6).
During the June 19 Primetime, the quarterly employee forum with senior Duke administrators, Brodhead said the university
is exploring ways to improve security, transportation and employee health.
In response to a question about whether the university will follow Duke Medicine's lead and become tobacco-free, Brodhead
said, "It's been many years since smoking was not permitted in any Duke building. Duke Health has gone the further step...because,
since they have so many patients under care there...the actual control of the atmosphere there is at the very, very highest
level of alert. By that, I don't mean that it is or should be at a lower significance elsewhere."
Duke Farmers Market to Celebrate Tobacco Independence
Did you know that fruits and vegetables make cigarettes taste worse? That's what a new study by Duke's Center for Nicotine and Smoking Cessation Research discovered.
That could leave a bad taste in some smokers' mouths, since you should be eating five servings of fruits and vegetables a day.
Come to the Duke Farmers Market on July 6 to celebrate Tobacco Independence Week and learn how to help yourself and others to quit using tobacco. Information will be available about tobacco cessation resources at Duke and employees can get free blood pressure and carbon monoxide tests at the market.
The celebration will happen only two days after Duke Medicine goes
tobacco free
on July 4.
"Duke understands that this change may be difficult for employees who use
tobacco, and Duke leadership is committed to providing the necessary resources
and support to help them through the transition. There are expanded programs and
new benefits to help those who are motivated by the new policy to quit. We hope
folks will join the festivities at the Farmers Market and learn more about the
resources available," said Betsy Levitas, who coordinates the LIVE FOR LIFE
Tobacco Cessation Program and the Duke Farmers Market. Special activities include:
- Counseling and information about tobacco cessation resources available at Duke, and free tobacco cessation materials, including how-to guides from LIVE FOR LIFE.
- Healthy summer dish demonstrations and sales sponsored by
A Southern Season.
- Free three to four minute chair massages.
- Blood pressure screening and information on how to lower blood pressure through diet, exercise and by stopping tobacco use.
- Breath tests for carbon monoxide, which is a harmful gas found in cigarette smoke, conducted by the
Center for Nicotine and Smoking Cessation Research. Carbon monoxide has detrimental effects on the health of smokers as it is a suspected contributor to cardio vascular diseases and it deprives the heart and the body from oxygen.
- Free blood pressure tests and information about how stopping tobacco use can lower blood pressure levels, will be available from representatives involved with the
ENCORE study, who are examining the effects of diet on reducing blood pressure.
- Live music by the Friends of the Farmers Market Old Time String Band
The Duke Farmers Market event on July 6 will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in front of the Medical Center Bookstore, on the walkway between Duke Hospital and the Medical Center (map/directions).
Click here for more information about the Tobacco-Free Initiative, and
click here for information about tobacco cessation resources available at Duke through LIVE FOR LIFE.
|
