Dowell Health Center

Smoking Cessation

Are you interested in quitting smoking?   We offer a variety of services including FREE smoking cessation classes and FREE individual cessation assessment appointments designed to meet your needs and help you quit once and for all!

During an assessment appointment a Health Educator will:

• Explain the different quit options that are available to you and help you decide which option would be most effective for you.
• Review the different nicotine replacement therapies and medications available and help you decide if you want to use medication during your quit and if so, which one is right for you.
• Discuss online support groups available.
• Provide information about the smoking cessation classes offered here at Towson and throughout the community.

Smoking Cessation Classes:

We are proud to offer FREE smoking cessation classes in partnership with the Baltimore County Department of Health.  The class offered, Freedom From Smoking, is a program that meets 8 times over 7 weeks and was developed by the American Lung Association.  Some of the topics covered during the program include:

• Identifying triggers
• Learning how to manage stress and practice relaxation
• Building a support system and developing a quit plan
• Coping strategies
• Planning for a smoke-free lifestyle

Cessation classes are also open to anyone that lives or works in Baltimore County, you do not have to be a Towson University Employee to attend.

Click here for the upcoming class schedule for faculty, staff and public

Click here for the upcoming class schedule for students

You must pre-register for a class prior to attending.  To register for a class or for more information about our smoking cessation services please call Kate Reeder at 410-704-2065. 

Alternative Quit Resources

For more information about other FREE cessation classes offered throughout the community as well as where you can access alternative quit services such as hypnotherapy and web-based programs, check out our Stop Smoking Resource Guide.

Aetna Student  Health Insurance Quit&Fit Program 

Good news for students with the Aetna student health insurance plan!  Aetna in conjunction with Healthyroads provides a voluntary one-year smoking cessation program by telephone and the web.  Professional health coaches trained in tobacco cessation can offer personalized plans to help you kick the habit. Great rewards and nicotine replacement therapy is also available through this program. 

For more information about the Quit&Fit program visit the program website or view an outline of the Quit&Fit Coaching program!

Benefits of Quitting Smoking Quick Facts:

20 Minutes After Quitting

heart rate drops to a normal level

12 Hours After Quitting

Carbon Monoxide levels in the blood drop

2 Weeks to 3 Months After Quitting

The risk of having a heart attack begins to drop and lung function begins to improve

1 to 9 Months After Quitting

Coughing and shortness of breath decreases

1 Year After Quitting

The risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a non-smoker's

5 to 15 Years After Quitting

The risk of having a stroke is reduced to that of a non-smoker's and the risk of getting cancer of the mouth, throat and esophagus are half that of a smoker's

10 Years After Quitting

The lung cancer rate is about half that of a smoker's, the risk of getting bladder cancer is half that of a smoker's and the risk of getting cervical cancer, cancer of the larynx, kidney and pancreas decreases

15 Years After Quitting

The risk of coronary heart disease is the same as that of a non-smoker's