University Center prepares for annual Tobacco Awareness Week with help from campus offices

UNC will be observe  Tobacco Awareness Week beginning Monday, which focuses on the harm that tobacco causes.

“It’s just to get the student body aware,” said Courtney Day, a junior interdisciplinary and liberal arts major and tobacco coordinator for the Center for Peer Education. “Tobacco Awareness Week is centered around the Great American Smokeout, which is November 19.”

The CPE is an undergraduate student-led organization that provides prevention education to the University of Northern Colorado community regarding alcohol, tobacco, drugs and health decisions. It operates under the umbrella of the Drug, Alcohol and Tobacco Education Office.

Tobacco Awareness Week was started at UNC to provide students with educational information about the health consequences of tobacco use, tobacco cessation resources, the tobacco industry and the  tobacco regulations at  the university.

“Our role is not to be condemning of behaviors related to tobacco use,” said Emily Hedstrom-Lieser, the program coordinator for the D.A.T.E. Office. “We understand that there are many reasons individuals decide to use tobacco. Our role is to be a resource for UNC in the event that individuals would like more information about tobacco or if they are interested in learning about tobacco cessation options.”

Some of the organizations involved with the week include Tobacco Free Weld County and groups like the Counseling Center, Fitness and Wellness and the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Allies Resource Office.

“All organizations involved with Tobacco Awareness Week have an interest in the overall health and wellness of UNC’s campus community,” Hedstrom-Lieser said. “Furthermore, these groups participate because they recognize the significance that tobacco use plays within the community.”

On Monday, there will be a smokeless tobacco display at the University Center. Tuesday, there will be a showing of the film “Thank You for Smoking.” A bingo game focusing on tobacco use will be hosted Wednesday at the UC. Thursday is the Great American Smokeout event, and there will be a tobacco fair on Friday to help smokers and chewers give up their habit.

For more information, visit www.unco.edu/date.