The Great American Smokeout

My roommate, Matt, during my sophomore year was Korean. I liked him a lot. Matt worked in a liquor store over 30 hours a week, enrolled in 22 units and got straight A’s. His favorite bands were Erasure, Queen and Andrés Segovia. I admired his courage to leave his country and family to study in America.

Matt was a smoker.

After every meal he would light up outside our room. I would join him even though I didn’t smoke. We would talk about the meaning of life and why bad things happen to good people. I thought being around smoke was a small price to pay to have that real connection with a friend.

One time he said, “Peter asked me why I smoke when I know it’s so bad for me.”

“What did you tell him?” I asked.

“Well Peter, it’s because,” he paused, “I’m fucking addicted!”

We busted up about that, a long and good laugh.

“But Mike” he paused again, “Don’t ever start smoking.”

Most smokers (over 70 percent) say they want to quit. Over 20 million smokers tried to quit at least one time last year. If you are thinking of quitting, consider starting at The Great American Smokeout, Nov. 20. Join thousands of Americans in their quest to be healthier.

The main idea behind the Smokeout is to quit for 24 hours. If you can, then maybe you can quit for 48 hours and so on. Prepare to quit with the 5 keys to quitting:

1. Prepare yourself – quitting doesn’t just happen, you have to plan for it.
2. Get support – studies have shown that having the support of others increases your success of quitting.
3. Learn new skills and behaviors to replace your smoking habit – learning new ways to cope with stress can help you when you have the urge to use tobacco to relax.
4. Consider getting medication and using it correctly – Medication doubles the chance of successfully quitting.
5. Prepare for relapse and difficult situations – nicotine is a difficult drug to kick. Prepare for situations that will challenge you.

The Great American Smokeout is brought to UCSB by Students Teaching Alcohol and other drug Responsibility (STAR) and Colleges Against Cancer. On Thursday, Nov. 20, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. they will be out in the Arbor distributing quitter’s aid kits and encouraging you to sign a pledge to quit for 24 hours. They also will have handouts on free campus resources (like counseling, nicotine replacement, and prescription medication) that increase your chances of quitting for good.

For non-smokers, consider signing an empathy pledge to give up caffeine, chocolate or soft drinks for 24 hours in support of your friends.

I value the discussions I had with Matt. Talking with him was a great way to connect to a good person. But today I know there are no safe levels of second hand smoke.

STAR and The Alcohol and Drug Program will be encouraging smokers to protect the health of non-smokers next Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 24 & 25. We will be handing out $5 gift cards to smokers who are following the UCSB smoking policy by not smoking “within 20 feet of the entrances, exits, operable windows, and ventilation intakes of all occupied university owned, leased or managed buildings.”

Some people are concerned that giving out gift cards is rewarding people for smoking. That is not our goal. Our goal is to reward people who protect their fellow students/staff/faculty from the harm of second hand smoke. STAR believes positive reinforcement will be more effective than telling people to stop smoking close to buildings.

Pick up an “I (heart) respectful smokers – 20 feet rule” buttons at the Great American Smokeout to do your part.

Other resources:

Health Benefits of quitting

The UCSB Tobacco Cessation Program

Use social networking (like Facebook) to help you quit.

Wellness Event of the Week: Fall nights. This special event is for the entire UCSB community. All are welcome to the elusive faculty club for FREE FOOD and uncensored discussion about President-elect Obama. Professor John Woolley (chair of Political Science) is our speaker and we have 10 confirmed faculty and staff from departments all over campus as table hosts. Thursday, Nov. 20, 8-9 p.m. at the Faculty Club.

Michael Takahara is a health educator at Student Health. Post comments, questions, and suggestions below or email michael.takahara@sa.ucsb.edu.

8 Responses to “The Great American Smokeout”

1. Lorie Morris says:

   November 18, 2008 at 11:45 am

   Yea Maka, I always love that your articles talk about real people and their experiences!
2. Don Lubach says:

   November 18, 2008 at 1:16 pm

   Well put!
3. Mya says:

   November 19, 2008 at 11:18 am

   It’s great to see the collaborative efforts that are planned for Thursday’s Great American Smokeout. As your story pointed out, smoking is an addictive behavior and most smokers try to quit multiple times before being successful. Mark Twain once said “Quitting smoking is easy, I’ve done it a thousand times.”

   There are so many resources available to help people quit smoking and even more reasons to quit but staying quit can still prove to be a struggle. This year, however, there’s a new idea to help smokers stay quit after the Great American Smokeout: Quit and Stay Quit Monday. Smokers who make the decision to quit smoking on the Great American Smokeout can reaffirm their commitment to staying tobacco free on the following Monday and each Monday thereafter to ensure that they stay quit. Each week is an opportunity for you to celebrate your progress or recommit to improving your health and well-being. Check out http://www.healthymonday.org/stayquit for more info.
4. thehealthguy says:

   November 19, 2008 at 11:26 am

   Quit and Stay Quit Monday is an awesome idea, Mya. Thanks for posting that wonderful on line resource http://www.healthymonday.org/stayquit

   Peace, maka
5. Kelly Antista (: says:

   November 19, 2008 at 3:01 pm

   Another great article Maka… I feel like your stories really help the reader (me!) connect to the health information you provide.

   Congratulations to you and STAR, I know GAS has been a project in the works for a long time now and the description of the activities planned sounds awesome!! I will be giving up something as well in support of my loved ones that I am encouraging to participate in GAS tomorrow.

   ALSO! Congratulations to Wellness for launching Fall Nights… I looked forward to these events last Spring and always enjoyed them… I think this first discussion topic will be pretty popular at UCSB!
6. Joanna Hill says:

   November 20, 2008 at 12:23 pm

   In college, I refused to kiss smokers. One guy was shocked. He didn’t quit for me, but he didn’t get to find out how rockin’ a kisser I was…:)
7. nicole says:

   November 20, 2008 at 3:54 pm

   I gave up caffeine for GAS in support for those who pledged to quit smoking for the day!! I hope 24 hrs could lead to a smoke free life!
8. Megan says:

   November 20, 2008 at 10:45 pm

   My mom used to smoke for the longest time. She started when she was only 13 which made quitting even harder after several failed attempts. She is going on 8 or 9 years of not smoking soon. I think it’s great that she was finally able to kick her habit, although I can still see how smoking has affected numerous aspects of her life.

   Quitting for 24 hours seems like a good way to get smokers aware of their smoking routine. Hopefully many people were able to benefit from the GAS!