Health Tools and Resources

Tobacco can effect your and other's health in many ways. Increase your knowledge and understanding of the harmful effects of tobacco through the information provided and explore the benefits of being tobacco free.

Facts About Smoking and Tobacco

Physical Benefits of Quitting

Secondhand Smoke

Smokeless Tobacco

Assessments

Olin Health Center's Smoker's Self Test

Quit successfully and for good by following the guidelines provided in this section. Find the best methods and strategies for you.

Quitnet.com is a top notch web site that assists you with creating a quit plan, ask questions online and get support and learn from their science-based quitting guides.

Learn about quitting from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Potential Methods For Quitting:

Cold Turkey - quitting without any outside help
Nicotine Replacement Therapy- patch, gum, nasal spray, inhalers and lozenge
Bupropion(aka Zyban or Wellbutrin SR)
Varenicline (aka Chantix)
Outside Support- cessation classes, telephone hotlines, web site cessation programs, support groups
Alternative Methods- hypnosis, acupuncture and herbal remedies
Learn more about these methods and medications!

Staying tobacco free - how to handle withdrawal and relapses.

FREE NICOTINE REPLACEMENT THERAPY is available by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW or logging on to www.idaho.quitnet.com. Smokers who call the QuitLine or log on to Idaho QuitNet can request 4-weeks of their choice of nicotine patches, gum or lozenges.

There is free help available locally for those who decide to quit tobacco. You don’t have to quit alone. Support and options are available.

December Sessions:
Monday, December 8
Tuesday, December 9
Wednesday, December 10
Thursday, December 11
When: 4:00pm-6:00pm or 6:30pm-8:30pm
Where: American Cancer Society
2676 S. Vista (Next to Alamo Car Rental)
Fee: None
Registration: Contact Nancy Casperson, RN at 342-0308.

Local Tobacco Cessation Classes

Coordinated by Central District Health Department.  Funded by Idaho Tobacco Millennium Funds.

Most classes meet five times and cover the following topics:
* Nicotine addiction and habit
* Consequences of tobacco use
* Information and tips on how to quit
* Dealing with withdrawal symptoms
* Managing stress through relaxation techniques
* Avoiding weight gain
* How to become a non-tobacco user for good!

Class Contact Information

Boise Classes
Quit and Live
Nancy Caspersen 342-0308
www.quitandlive.net

Central District Health Department
Information: 375-5211

St. Luke's Regional Medical Center
Register: 381-1200
Information: 381-3491

Youth Tobacco Classes
Michelle Wright 938-9380

McCall
McCall Memorial Hospital
Tamara Kam 634-4061 x247

Mountain Home Classes for Youth
Anne Bush 587-4623

Idaho QuitLine
1-800-Quit-Now (1-800-784-8669); TTY 1-888-229-2182
Counselors are available: Monday-Friday, 7:00am-9:00pm; Saturday and Sunday, 8:00am-4:30pm; 24-Hour Voice Mail

Help to quit smoking is now just a phone call away. The Idaho QuitLine is a free telephone counseling service designed to help smokers quit. This confidential service connects tobacco users with trained counselors who guide and support them through the process of becoming tobacco-free.

When you call the Idaho QuitLine, you’ll receive:

* Up to five counseling sessions with trained cessation counselors
* Education materials
* Information about medications that can help you quit

FREE NICOTINE REPLACEMENT THERAPY is available by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW or logging on to www.idaho.quitnet.com. Smokers who call the QuitLine or log on to Idaho QuitNet can request 4-weeks of their choice of nicotine patches, gum or lozenges.

Fall 2009 Smoke Free Campus Policy
All university owned or leased buildings, facilities, or areas occupied by state employees are designated as non-smoking. Because many non-smokers exposed to outdoor tobacco smoke suffer immediate symptoms (e.g., breathing difficulties, eye irritation, headache, nausea, and asthma attacks), Boise State University is extending the non-smoking mandate to all university property and other properties owned or leased by the University, and all university leased or owned vehicles, effective fall semester 2009.

Current Policy
The approved policy provides for the designation of “smoke-free-entrances” to permanent campus buildings. The intent of this policy is to provide a smoke-free environment at the primary accessible entrance to campus buildings. Smoking is prohibited within 30 feet of smoke-free entrances. In support of this effort, Facilities Operations & Maintenance has moved or provided cigarette receptacles 30 feet from the smoke-free entrances.

Smoke-Free Campus Initiative

National College Health Assessment data for Fall 2007, Fall 2005 and Spring 2003, including Boise State alcohol statistics.

Campus Health Action on Tobacco (CHAT)
CHAT was a college-based study by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Their goal was to assess if a comprehensive tobacco control intervention that included establishment and enforcement of campus restrictive smoking policies and accessible smoking cessation assistance, would reduce smoking among college students.

Spring 2003 Boise State participated in the baseline survey and preliminary results are available. May of 2003 Boise State was informed the institution was randomized into the delayed verse the intervention group. This means Boise State will be used to assess the effect and success of the interventions portion of the study to the intervention group. In 2005, all colleges in the delayed group will receive materials, handbooks and technical assistance in implementing the "best practices" of the intervention.

Idaho Behavior Risk Factors Surveillance System Browse for the latest stats regarding tobacco use in Idaho. For youth tobacco use stats, check out the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System data for Idaho.

Idaho Health and Safety Assessment - Explore what factors are contributing to disease and death in Idaho.

SAMMEC - Smoking Attributable Mortality, Morbidity and Economic Costs. SAMMEC is an online application created by the CDC that allows you to estimate the health and health-related economic consequences of smoking to adults and infants.

Coalition for Healthy Idaho is a group of organizations and individuals that work together to decrease the impact of tobacco on the health of Idahoans by: reducing exposure to secondhand smoke through local initiatives to improve clean indoor air; continuing to educate the public and policymakers on the importance of a Comprehensive Tobacco Prevention and Control Program; and providing guidance and information on policy and systems changes in relation to tobacco control and prevention.

Tobacco Free Idaho Alliance - The mission of the Tobacco Free Idaho Alliance (TFIA) is to form collaborative partnerships with statewide, community-based agencies dedicated to promoting health and preventing disease, by reducing tobacco use in Idaho. This vision is accomplished by building strong local coalitions, developing public policies that support our goals, and by synergizing state tobacco control activities. Looking to become involved? Contact Ferd Schlapper at fschlapp@boisestate.edu or 426-2770.

The Idaho Regional Alcohol Drug Awareness Resource (RADAR) Network Center is an information clearinghouse and resource referral service. The Center, located in the Health & Wellness Center at Boise State, provides continually updated substance abuse information, educational programs and multiple complimentary copies of printed materials in English and Spanish. Videos and posters are also available. Phone: 208-426-3471.

American Council on Science and Health contains press releases, publications, editorials, priority articles and off link sites that provide information on tobacco and other health issues.

Action on Smoking and Health was designed for those concerned about smoking and nonsmokers' rights. Find everything from quitting smoking to smoking statistics.

American Heart Association offers current research along with great educational material to help reduce disability and death from cardiovascular diseases and stroke.

American Legacy Foundation collaborates with national, state and local organizations through grant awards, research initiatives, marketing efforts and training programs in an effort to reduce tobacco use in the United States. Legacy’s work to reduce tobacco use among young people includes a major national tobacco youth prevention and education effort known as the Truth campaign.

The American Lung Association (ALA) is one of the oldest voluntary health organizations in the United States, with a national office and affiliate associations around the country. Founded in 1904 to fight tuberculosis, ALA today fights lung disease in all its forms through education and research, with special emphasis on asthma, tobacco control and environmental health.

Americans for Nonsmoker's Rights is the only national lobbying organization dedicated to nonsmokers’ rights.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) includes Surgeon General reports, publication catalog for ordering educational materials, public access to the tobacco industry’s documents and much more! The CDC is recognized as the leading federal agency for protecting the health and safety of people at home and abroad, providing credible information to enhance health decisions and promoting health.

Chewfree.com is a free smokeless tobacco quitting program on-line.

Environmental Protection Agency offers straight forward information regarding tobacco. Type “tobacco” into their search engine.

Idaho Quit Net is sponsored by Idaho Health and Welfare. This interactive site is free to all Idahoans and includes a calculator to figure out how much smoking costs you, chat rooms, quitting resources and expert support from professional counselors.

Join Together Online has a wide variety of research articles and information on substance abuse and gun violence. One highlight is Join the Discussion, in which visitors can ask questions, share their insights and explore issues.

National Cancer Institute supports research, training, health information dissemination and other programs. This program is in reference to respect the cause, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of cancer.

Office of the Surgeon General offers the latest tobacco information and techniques for treating tobacco use and dependence.

Project Filter is a program developed by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare that works to create a state free from tobacco-related death and disease.

Tobacco Free Kids has excellent fact sheets encompassing tobacco as a whole. Explore information regarding the Master Settlement Agreement and state, federal and global tobacco free initiatives. The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids is fighting to free America's youth from tobacco and create a healthier environment. The Campaign is one of the nation's largest non-governmental initiatives ever launched to protect children from tobacco addiction and exposure to secondhand smoke.

Tobacco.org has the latest and best tobacco news and information. Researching for a paper or report? Search the tobacco news archives!

Tobacco Scam includes information on how “Big Tobacco” uses and abuses the restaurant industry. Contains ventilation and secondhand smoke information, as well as discusses the economics behind going tobacco free in the restaurant industry.

Tobacco Technical Assistance Consortium (TTAC) is a comprehensive, tobacco informational resource that also provides best programming practices and training support. TTAC's College Tobacco Prevention Resource site has practical information, ideas and guidance to college leaders as they plan, implement and evaluate campus tobacco policies and programs.