Robb English, the Aquatics Supervisor in Chapel Hill’s Parks and Recreation Department, dipped almost a can of tobacco a day when he came to the Wellness at Work Tobacco Free Employee Program. As a teenager who played sports, Robb says that dipping tobacco was part of the culture, less overt and obvious than smoking cigarettes. But now Robb wanted to give himself the best chance for living a healthy life, so he took the first step: enrolling in a program that offered support and medications to help him achieve his goal.

Smoking on and off since I was thirteen, I’d tried every trick in the book to stop. Every attempt ended in failure, whether it was stopping cold turkey or gradually with the help of medication. I became, as the old joke goes, an expert on quitting. After all, I’d done it so many times. But, with the help of the Nicotine Dependence Program it seems to be working. Not only am I smoke-free, but I don’t really think much about smoking any more. I knew when I chose to stop that I needed help to do it. I was looking for a program that would provide structure and accountability without sermons or judgment. This program does that and more.

What made you decide to quit smoking? A few things made me quit. Mostly I did it for my wife. But price and working at the hospital were contributing factors to quitting this time. What was the hardest part about quitting? Initially the hardest thing was quitting itself. The habit of smoking was harder than … Read more

When Robert Jenkins came into UNC Health Care System’s Tobacco Free Tar Heels (TFTH) program, he had been smoking since he was 15 years old (“too long,” he said). Like many teens, it was the “cool factor” that led him to smoke. He shared that he was so sick of smoking and had always wanted to quit. He knew in his mind he was ready to quit, but still had to deal with his daily triggers for smoking: morning coffee, after meals, and stress. A co-worker told him she had quit with the support of the TFTH program and suggested that he give it a try.

Tyron Edwards, or T.Y., as he is known, entered the Wellness @ Work Tobacco Free Employee Program soon after it begin in fall 2011. He smoked between 1–2 packs of cigarettes per day, and had been smoking since he was 16 years old. He reported being “just tired of smoking.” Even with his readiness, he said that it was hard to do and he needed to put in the effort so he wouldn’t backslide.

Although he was not pressured by his family to quit, he knew that quitting was the best thing for him and would help him to set a better example for his children and grandchildren. “Why do I need these cigarettes?” Pendergraph asked himself. “They are just a crutch.” Bob Pendergraph, an HVAC Mechanic who works … Read more

Her three pregnancies provided Sibila with motivation for being tobacco free. Yet, she found herself sliding back and smoking again after her children were born. She considered herself to be an on and off smoker, with periods of abstinence followed by periods of smoking, especially when she felt stressed or upset. Claudia Sibila, a medical … Read more

Ebony joined the Tobacco Free Tar Heels program nearly two years ago. At that time, she had cut down on her smoking from more than a pack a day to just a few cigarettes, but she couldn’t seem to quit those last few. Her boyfriend was allergic to cigarette smoke and really didn’t like her … Read more

According to Paul, he was going through a divorce, which actually reduced his stress level. Also, he realized that he was spending at least $5/day on cigarettes and it would be a way to save a lot of money. In addition, being newly single, he discovered that the women he met didn’t want to date … Read more

Martha started smoking at age 14. Smoking cigarettes was a part of her daily routine for 36 years before she decided to give it up. “It was depressing to even think about quitting,” Martha said. “I just felt like it was going to be hard.” If you are a smoker or are close to someone … Read more