Campus News

Join UK's Tobacco-Free Ambassadors for Kick It, Kentucky! Week

Tobacco-free ambassadors tabling during Kick It Kentucky! Week
Tobacco-free ambassadors tabling during Kick It Kentucky! Week

Lexington, Ky. (Sept. 27, 2017) – The University of Kentucky's tobacco-free ambassadors are teaming up with American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) and over 20 other leading health organizations to celebrate the first-ever Kick It, Kentucky! week. From Sept. 25 to 30 the organization will focus on highlighting the impact of tobacco use on the state of Kentucky and promote strategies and resources available to kick the habit.

Unfortunately, Kentucky still has the highest rates of tobacco use in the nation, and not coincidentally, the highest incidence and mortality from lung cancer.

Kick It, Kentucky! week provides several opportunities for members of the campus community to participate in events and hear more from people working in the field of tobacco prevention and treatment. UK’s Tobacco-free Ambassadors will be on campus Thursday, September 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in front of Whitehall to share more information about the availability of resources on campus and across the community to help people quit. To educate Kentuckians on tobacco cessation and available resources, ACS CAN will host a Twitter Q&A with a panel of experts on Wednesday, Sept. 27 from 1 to 2 p.m. Follow @ACSCANKY and #KickItKY to join the conversation and submit questions.

UK currently offers a number of tobacco treatment options for students, faculty and staff. One of these programs, the iQuit Program, is free to UK students who have paid their health fee and can be initiated through University Health Service. For faculty and staff, UK Health and Wellness provides tobacco cessation coaching. These programs include free nicotine replacement. For more information: www.uky.edu/TobaccoFree

The 2017 “Kick it, Kentucky!” Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Week is a state-wide effort to encourage all Kentuckians to quit tobacco use and prevent youth from starting. ACS-CAN is partnering to educate communities and share tools and support with individuals who want to quit this week and beyond! In a state with the highest rate of adult smoking, and 2nd highest rate of youth smoking in the nation, there’s no better time to “Kick it, Kentucky!”

Kentuckians looking to quit tobacco use can start by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW and consult with their doctors. For more information on Kick It, Kentucky! week and resources to help you quit tobacco, visit www.smokefreetomorrow.org and www.quitnowkentucky.org.