Wellness
Smoking Cessation - Medication Voucher Program - Another Tool for Students

For those students in Aroostook County who are interested in quitting smoking, another tool is being made available to help in their efforts. Free nicotine replacement medication is being offered to those who visit their campus health centers, through the Partnership For A Tobacco-Free Maine's "Medication Voucher Program".

Partnership For a Tobacco-Free Maine logo Representatives of the Partnership For a Tobacco-Free Maine met recently with Christy Madore, a nurse practitioner with the UMFK campus health center and Rachel Charette, the project director of Power of Prevention in Fort Kent to launch the medication program. "I am very excited that this program is now available to our students", stated Christy Madore, who is also a graduate of UMFK. Though overall smoking rates have decreased significantly in Maine over the past several years, the rate of smoking continues to hover around 29% for young adults aged 18-24. "Many students who smoke, however, really do want to quit", she added. "Now we have the means to be even more helpful in those efforts"

The Medication Voucher Program provides up to 8 weeks of the nicotine patch, the nicotine lozenge or the nicotine gum to those students who are eligible and are motivated to quit. This program has been available for several years by calling the Maine Tobacco HelpLine (1-800-207-1230) but for those students who prefer to meet face-to-face with someone from their own campus health center, this is a new, easy access alternative.

Rachel Charette, who is also a Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist and a long-time advocate of increasing access to tobacco treatment, noted that UMFK along with the University of Maine at Presque Isle and Northern Maine Community College, are the first campuses in the state to be offered this program. "We are thrilled", she said that this pilot program starts here in Aroostook County." "We have worked closely with the Partnership For A Tobacco-Free Maine on many of their efforts, including helping to promote a recent series of Tobacco Treatment Trainings and we are very pleased that this is being made available to our students."

Students who are interested in quitting smoking can call or visit their campus health center for more information. All students and all Maine residents are also reminded that this same program is available by calling the Maine Tobacco Helpline at 1-800-207-1230.