Southeast Missouri State University's Recreation Services will host a smoking cessation program to help those who are struggling to overcome an addiction to smoking and nicotine. Each semester the program reaches out to motivate students across the Southeast campus that are ready to quit smoking.

Dr. Takeshi Fujii, the assistant director of Recreation Services, will educate individuals on the harmful affects of smoking as well as enlighten them on new ways of sustaining a healthier lifestyle. According to the American Lung Association website, 392,000 people die every year from tobacco-caused disease, making it the leading cause of preventable death, while 50,000 people die due to exposure to secondhand smoke.

The American Lung Association website also says that the freedom from smoking program has been ranked the most effective smoking cessation program, and 60 percent of participants have reported that they have quit smoking by the end of their last session.

"We started offering the program as we moved to a restricted smoking campus as part of wellness program offerings for those who are interested in quitting," Fujii said. "As a part of the Smoking Policies and Procedures Committee, I also think it is essential to provide the Southeast community with resources that help them end on a positive note and lead a healthy lifestyle."

The smoking cessation program will be a small-group setting so that each individual can get the attention they need. Participants will have support of their peers who are going through the same cycle at the same time. The curriculum will include information about different nicotine products such as types of nasal sprays, gum, nicotine patches and other smoking cessation medications. Eating a well-balanced diet and drinking plenty of water will also be a topic in the agenda for the program. Ways of reducing stress to better the individual's mood and energy levels will be demonstrated in class as well.

"I would like people who are interested in quitting their tobacco use to participate in this program because it will provide great educational information, resources and support," Fujii said.

As a joint effort in the smoking cessation program, staff from SoutheastHEALTH will be utilized to help develop a plan of action for individuals that need help in managing their cravings and strengthening their goals by becoming smoke-free.

"Change can be difficult, but any change always starts with a small step," Fujii said.

As individuals keep attending classes without smoking, withdrawal symptoms and desires for a smoke may occur. The smoking cessation program tries to counteract this by offering counseling and lectures about taming people's behaviors so that they don't control them psychologically and physically. The smoking cessation program will start at 12:15 p.m. March 1. Each weekly session will be held on Thursday and will last until April 19. Classes will be held at the Student Recreation Center - North Room 107. The program will be free to Southeast faculty, staff and students.

Visit www.lung.org/stop- smoking to get more information about the American Lung Association's objective and what the smoking cessation program is about.