The DHS Tobacco-free Campus Policy will become effective May, 2008. Resources for quitting.
Tobacco-free DHS
Healthier worksites • Help quitting
In your words
If you’re thinking about quitting tobacco, you’re not alone. One poll found that 82 percent of smokers want to quit.
If you’ve quit before and started again, you’re definitely not alone. It takes most people at least three tries before they “stay quit.”
And though there are many ways to quit (cold turkey, gum, etc.), you don’t have to do it alone. It helps to have the support of family, friends and people who have been through it themselves.
Below are comments, words of encouragement and stories from DHS employees who have quit or are trying to quit.
One of the hardest things I ever did in my whole life was to quit smoking, which was approximately 16 years ago or so. But there are still times to this day that I crave to have just one, but know that if I do I would be back to a pack-a-day smoker.
As a long-time smokeless tobacco user, this just gives me more reason to try again to quit the habit!
I recently quit smoking and feel great. Everyone here at my branch office have been an awesome support system!
This decision is having many positive outcomes in terms of folks stopping smoking and positive conversations are occurring around this topic at the campus where I work!
At least one person in my office has already quit for over three weeks just in anticipation of May 30th.
My grandmother smoked for 55 years and quit 20 years ago. She’s almost 90 now, and I know she would not still be around to see her great and great-great grandchildren had she not made that choice.
Been smoking 50 years. I’ve never been able to quit but hope to get there someday.
I really need to quit. I just need something to help me over the edge, so I am really excited to know that the state is willing to back us up. Thanks. It always seemed as if when a company put the no smoking into effect in public areas that we should be able to quit. Then they leave it to face on our own. It is an addiction these days not a choice. So I will accept any help. I know it is time for me to quit, and I want to succeed this time.
I haven’t quit smoking yet, although I continue to try.
I used to smoke more than a pack a day. I've gradually reduced that and I'm now down to 10 to 15 cigarettes a day, and several of those are only half-smoked before I put them out. I appreciate the non-blaming encouragement.
I quit for 30 days once and am trying to quit again. I am trying to get the patches from my medical provider. I think a smoke-free campus is a wonderful idea, and it will help me stay quit.
My dad smoked most of his life and quit at age 69. About 10 years after he quit I asked him if he ever missed smoking. "Every day!" he said. I’m proud that he was able to quit and never go back.
So far I'm on day four of being smoke-free. I was a "cheater-smoker" and the new policy will make it easier for me to stay smoke-free!
I have been a smoker for 40 years. I quit smoking three weeks ago. I am glad that our work place is soon to be smoke free. I have always believed others should not have to breathe, smell or be subjected to secondhand smoke. For those of us who are working hard to abstain from tobacco, not having it in a close proximity is a positive reinforcement.
I quit smoking six months ago. I made up many helpful non-smoking exercises of my own. I have never felt better. I can run down a beach and not be out of breath. I hope that many more people will be as successful as I’ve been so far.
I know that this new policy will ruffle a few feathers, but it’s a good decision. I recently started smoking a cigarette here and there (only at work) after quitting almost two years ago — before that I’d smoked for 9 years. If this policy helps only a few of us remain smoke-free, then it is worth it!