CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE : Smoking Cessation Help Offered

Students who are burned out on cigarettes can find help at Cal State Northridge’s student health center, which is offering three ways for smokers to kick the habit.

Fresh Start Plus, a six-week smoking cessation program sponsored by the American Cancer Society, began Friday. The free program focuses on goal-setting and coping with problems associated with smoking.

“It’s basically a cold turkey approach,” said Barbara Kar, educational director for the American Cancer Society’s San Fernando Valley unit. “We look at their own behavior, look at why they’re smoking and give them skills to cope with it.

“We have some things on stress reduction, and we talk about weight gain. We have them set a quit date.”

Kathy Yarmo, health educator at the CSUN student health center, said Fresh Start Plus is being taught by Marcia Anderson, a student who quit an 18-year smoking habit. Anderson is being trained by Kar’s office.

The class is held from 1 to 3 p.m. Fridays at the health center. The center is taking registration for the program.

Another program, Nicotine Anonymous, is offered free from noon to 1 p.m. Mondays at the health center.

Yarmo said the 12-week program operates much like Alcoholics Anonymous.

For smokers who shy away from groups, the health center offers confidential one-on-one counseling.

Statewide statistics indicate that smoking cessation programs such as the ones offered at CSUN are having an effect, Kar said.

“Smoking percentages have declined significantly since 1984,” Kar said. “In 1990, 19.5% of California adults were smokers. In 1984, the percentage of California adults that were smoking was 25.2%.”

A campus ban on smoking in buildings may also be prodding CSUN students to quit, Yarmo added.