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Cessation Resources

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Nicotine is a highly addictive drug found in all forms of tobacco from cigarettes and cigars to chewing tobacco, snuff or hookah. We understand—quitting is a hard. So we’re to help you! Macalester College offers a variety of tobacco cessation resources to help students and employees quit.

Quitting Tips

The most important thing you can do is plan, plan, plan for your quit day. And change the way you think about quitting. Do not give yourself permission to smoke—be positive. Quitting is hard, so take it one day at a time.

You can do it! Here are some other tips:

  • Pick a Quit date. Tell friends and family members so they can be a source of support.
  • Remove reminders of smoking – clean before the quit day and get rid of ashtrays, lighters, and cigarettes.
  • Identify your reasons to quit smoking
  • Identify your smoking triggers and come up with alternative ways to cope with them
  • Stay away from alcohol; it’s the biggest reason for failure. Instead, enjoy tobacco-free and alcohol-free activities with your friends. Spend as much time as possible in places where smoking is prohibited.
  • Watch your snack and caffeine intake to prevent weight gain and caffeine overdose
  • Make sleep a priority. When you’re quitting smoking you can feel especially tired. Being well rested will give you the resolve to quit and make other healthy choices.
  • Symptoms of dehydration could be mistaken for a craving so drink plenty of water to stay hydrated
  • Go for a walk, take the stairs, add physical activity to your daily routine. This is a great way to relieve the stress and irritability you may feel when you’re quitting.
  • Set up rewards for quit milestones.

Resources for Students

Quit Partner Minnesota

Quit Partner is Minnesota’s free way to quit nicotine, including smoking, vaping and chewing. They can support your quit with one-on-one coaching, email and text support, and free quit medication delivered by mail. They are available to help 24/7.

Stress Reduction/Coping Strategies

Physical activity classes are available during the evening for students and led by students.  Register for free physical activity classes that focus on the mind and body connection.

Meditation and mindfulness resources are available through Sitting@Mac.  Sitting@Mac meets on Wednesdays for meditation and Dharma talk at 4:45 PM in the Weyerhaeuser Memorial Chapel.

Resources for Employees

Free Nicotine Replacement Therapy and Medication

Employees with HealthPartners insurance through Macalester College can receive free nicotine replacement patches, gum, lozenges or tobacco cessation medication with a prescription from your doctor.

Free Onsite Coaching

All Macalester employees, regardless of insurance, are able to get support with quitting by meet one-on-one with Kelly Fang, Macalester’s onsite Wellness Coach.  Contact Kelly to schedule an appointment at   or 651-696-6963.

Free Phone Coaching

All HealthPartners members are eligible to work with a Health Coach over the phone to help with quitting smoking.  To register in the Partners in Quitting program and schedule your first appointment, call 952-883-7800.

Stress Reduction/Coping Strategies

Mindfulness classes are offered onsite for staff and faculty through WHAM.  The cost is $25 for each 6-week series. To check dates and register visit the WHAM website.

Physical activity classes such as yoga, pilates, circuit training and boot camp are available onsite for staff and faculty through WHAM.  For details, visit the WHAM website.

Additional Tobacco Free Resources for All

Visit some of our recommended websites and mobile apps for support and tools you need to be tobacco free.

Websites

QuitPlan
American Cancer Society Guide to Quitting Smoking
TobaccoFreeLife

Mobile Apps

LiveStrong MyQuit Coach – iPhone
Quit Smoking – Android
Quitter – iPhone

Books

American Lung Association 7 Steps to a Smoke-Free Life
by Edwin B. Fischer. Wiley, 1998

Sure-Fire, Fifty-Day Way to Stop Smoking
iBook