24 February 2012

Staff and students offered help to stop smoking

Staff and students from the University of Dundee who smoke will next week be able to access a range of methods to help to stub out their habit.

The University's Student Services team have partnered with Smokeline, Scotland's national stop-smoking helpline, and will hold a group meeting for all those who are trying to quit, or considering doing so, on Thursday, 1st March.

Taking place at Level 4 of Dundee University Students Association (DUSA) from 1pm, the informal gathering will allow people to chat with a friendly Smokeline advisor and others in the same situation as them in order to identify the quit method that's right for them.

Patches, sprays, gums, tablets and inhalators are all available for smokers who wish to give up, but some of these products are not suitable, or effective, for all people. Smokeline aims to help smokers to help themselves in their battle against nicotine, and offer a range of services for them.

Sheena Stewart of Student Services said it was hoped that the meeting will lead to the establishment of weekly group sessions on campus.

"If people have decided to give up, then they have already taken a giant step but the battle is a long and hard one and we want to help people to win it," she said.

"With the help of Smokeline, we want to make them aware of what help and support there is on offer. There will be a lot of people who tried to give up at New Year but who fell by the wayside, and we don't want them to think 'well, I tried and failed and that's it'.

"Maybe all they need is to take a different approach, so we will be trying to find the right method for them. We also want to hear from people who are considering quitting, but who havent done anything about it yet. It's an important health decision that people have to make and so we want to hear from as many staff and students as possible."

More information is available by emailing studentactivities@dundee.ac.uk.

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Grant Hill
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University of Dundee
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