Most U-M students have not smoked cigarettes in the past month, and the vast majority of students have never used cigarettes. If you’re considering quitting smoking, vaping, using e-cigarettes, and hookahs, you’ll have a lot of support on campus!
There is no better time to quit!
Millions have quit smoking, vaping, using e-cigarettes, and hookahs. You can quit too! Given that U-M is a Tobacco-Free Campus, there is no better time to quit. Resources are available to help you quit whether or not you've thought about quitting before, tried to quit, or successfully quit in the past and started again.
Remember, if at first you don't succeed, quit, quit again!
Resources for quitting
- Wellness Coaching for Nicotine Cessation. One-on-one coaching support with a specialized nicotine cessation coach. Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is available at no cost for students who sign up to coach.
- Schedule an appointment with a UHS clinician. Clinicians specializing in college health can discuss your health and quitting with you.
- Family and friends: Social support is probably the most valuable resource! Ask for what you need - encouragement, congratulations, or company. If you know someone else who wants to quit, try a buddy system.
Physical benefits of quitting
Cigarette smoking, vaping, and cannabis use can cause serious lung injuries, compromise the respiratory system, and impair immune function. The moment you stop smoking though, you start to see health improvements. This is true no matter how old you are or how long you’ve been smoking.
Minutes after quitting
Your heart rate and blood pressure drop.
12 hours after quitting
The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.
2 weeks to 3 months after quitting
Your circulation improves and your lung function increases.
1 to 9 months after quitting
Coughing and shortness of breath decrease; cilia (tiny hair-like structures that move mucus out of the lungs) start to regain normal function in the lungs, increasing the ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce the risk of infection.
1 year after quitting
The excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a continuing smoker.
2-5 years after quitting
The risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, and bladder is cut in half. Cervical cancer risk falls to that of a non-smoker. Stroke risk can fall to that of a non-smoker.
10 years after quitting
The risk of dying from lung cancer is about half that of a person who is still smoking. The risk of cancer of the larynx (voice box) and pancreas decreases.
15 years after quitting
The risk of coronary heart disease is that of a non-smoker.
These are just a few of the benefits of quitting smoking for good. Quitting smoking lowers the risk of diabetes, lets blood vessels work better, and helps the heart and lungs. Quitting while you are younger will reduce your health risks more, but quitting at any age can give back years of life that would be lost by continuing to smoke.
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What’s too much?
Check out these resources to help you explore your relationship with alcohol and other drugs.