University of Miami's National Award Winning Smoking Cessation Program, "BeSmokeFree" is your premier "one-stop" resource for smokers looking to broaden their cessation education and treatment options.

The BeSmokeFree Program offers free UM-AHEC Quit Smoking Now classes at the following locations:

Medical Wellness Center - Medical Campus

Tuesdays - 6:30pm, Wednesdays - 12:30pm, Thursdays - 6:30pm (Relapse Prevention)

Herbert Wellness Center - Coral Gables Campus

Mondays - 11:00am-12:00pm; Wednesdays - 6:00pm-8:00pm

The BeSmokeFree Tobacco Education & Treatment Services include combining the best evidence-based treatments, such as Chantix (varenicline), a smoking cessation prescription medicine or a combination of nicotine replacement therapies (e.g., nicotine patches with Commit lozenges and nicotine gum) with various other alternative therapies to help minimize the cravings, bolster resolve, and rebuild a new sense of self for a smoker that is healthy, vibrant, and free from the grip of nicotine addiction.

The UM-AHEC Quit Smoking Now classes are offered weekly at various times during the day. Smokers interested in quitting are also referred to the Florida Department of Health’s toll-free, statewide smoking cessation telephone counseling hotline (1-877-U-CAN NOW).

How can the Program Help?

The BeSmokeFree Program is staffed by trained professionals who understand how difficult it is to stop using tobacco. Withdrawal symptoms associated with quitting can be effectively treated with current medications in combination with complementary and integrative medical therapies. Our professionals provide a regimen specifically tailored for you. Beyond that, personal and group support can make the difference in those early days during which many people relapse. There is now scientific proof showing that smokers receiving this kind of help are more than four times as likely to succeed in stopping tobacco use. Clinic professionals provide personal and group support to clients throughout the quitting process.

What Kind of Treatments do we Provide?

The BeSmokeFree staff are professionals who are trained in tobacco dependence treatment and understand how hard it is to quit. They will work with you to develop a personalized plan designed to best help you quit smoking.

The kind of treatment provided will depend on your individual needs.

You may choose to make use of one or more of the following:

• Individual treatment
• Group support sessions (6-Week Quit Smoking Now! Classes)
• Relapse Prevention (Aftercare Support Program)
• Nicotine Medicines (often called “Nicotine Replacement Therapy”, or “NRT”), such as:

  • Gum
  • Patch
  • Lozenge
  • Inhaler
  • Nasal spray

• Other Medications that can help you quit, such as:
  • Varenicline (aka Chantix)
• Cold Laser Therapy
• Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation (CES)
• Traditional Chinese Acupuncture
• Hypnosis
• Nutrition Counseling
• Whole Food Vitamin Supplements
• 21 Day Detoxification/Nutritional Cleanse
• Chinese Herbal Medicine
• Stress Reduction Treatments such as:
  • BrainSync- Brainwave Technology
  • IonCleanse Footbath
  • Full-Wave® Breathing
  • Oxygen Therapy with Organic Aromatherapy
  • Crystal Chromo-Therapy
• Neuro-Linguistic Psychology (NLP) Coaching
• Exercise Fitness Programs:*
  • Weight Training
  • Cardiovascular Training
  • Dance
  • Strength
  • Core
  • Resistance Training & Stretching
  • Cycling
  • Yoga/Mind- Body
  • Aquatics
  • Pilates
  • Tai Chi for Smokers

* Membership is required for access to certain fitness activities at the Herbert Wellness Center (Coral Gables Campus).

Drugs & Therapies

The Tobacco Education & Treatment Program offered by the BeSmokeFree Program is for people who have decided to quit smoking, for those who are considering quitting, and for concerned relatives and friends of a tobacco dependent person.

This program is staffed by a multidisciplinary team of trained specialists, with backgrounds in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, psychology, social work, spirituality, and tobacco dependence counseling.

  Prescription, Non-prescription Drugs and Therapies Used by the Program:

• NICOTINE REPLACEMENT

Nicotine patches and gum are available without a prescription to help smokers cope with nicotine withdrawal symptoms. All program participants can qualify for one month’s free supply of patches or gum. Those individuals with family incomes below $45,000 annually can qualify for two month’s free supply.

• PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

The BeSmokeFree / UM-AHEC Quit Smoking Now program uses varenicline (Chantix), a prescription medicine that helps reduce the urge to smoke and contains no nicotine. Prescription nicotine "puffer" and nasal sprays also are used as nicotine replacement therapies.

• COUNSELING

When performed by trained smoking cessation experts, counseling is an effective and critical component of any quit smoking effort. In fact, according to a recent study in the "Journal of the American Medical Association," counseling, when combined with certain prescription drugs, can double the success rate of individuals who are trying to stop smoking.

• ACUPUNTURE, COLD LASER, AND HYPNOSIS AND STRESS MANAGEMENT

Some believe these therapies can help smokers quit, and in certain cases, these are offered in collaboration with qualified, licensed providers.

Program Fee and Registration information

This program is open to anyone with the desire to become smoke-free for life. University of Miami affiliates and Non-UM affiliates alike are encouraged to join us for this life-changing experience!  Call Scott Irwin at (305) 243-3537 or email Scott Irwin for further details or to register for the BeSmokeFree Program.

Program Fees

There is no cost to enroll in the 6 week classes or relapse prevention programs.

Financial assistance for medications and other therapies is available for those who qualify.

Discounts on some therapies are available and everyone can qualify for at least one month’s free supply of nicotine patches or gum. Ask your counselor for details.

The kind of treatment provided will depend on the individual needs of the smoker.

Smokers may choose to make use of one or more of the following at the following program rates:

• Group Treatment / 6-Week Quit Smoking Now Classes - Free
• Individual Treatment $75/session
• Traditional Chinese Acupuncture $45/session
• Hypnosis - $125/session
• Relapse Prevention (Aftercare Support Program) Free
• Nicotine Replacement Therapy (gum, patch, lozenge) Free
• Other Pharmacological Aids e.g., Chantix (varenicline) Not covered
• Cold Laser Therapy $199 for 4 sessions (Quit Days 1, 3, 7 and 14 recommended)
• Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation (CES) - $20/session
• Nutrition Counseling $175/session
• Whole Food Vitamin Supplements
• Chinese Herbal Medicine
• Stress Management $45/session - choose from:
• • BrainSync- Brainwave Session, (includes CES, BioMat Rejuvenation, Aromatherapy and Chrystal Chromo Therapy)
  • IonCleanse Footbath (Includes 30 min footbath, CES, and Meditainment/Mediheaven Guided Meditation or Brainwave entrainment Session)
  • Medi-Blast Detox Footbath (Includes 30 min footbath, CES, and Meditainment/Mediheaven Guided Meditation or Brainwave entrainment Session)
  • Full-Wave® Breathing
  • Oxygen Therapy with Organic Aromatherapy (includes CES, BioMat Rejuvenation, and Meditainment/Mediheaven Guided Meditation or Brainwave entrainment Session)
  • Crystal Chromo-Therapy, (includes Brainwave entrainment, CES, BioMat Rejuvenation, Aromatherapy and Chrystal Chromo Therapy)
  • Meditainment / MediHeaven Meditation Sessions
• Exercise Fitness Programs
• • Weight Training
  • Cardiovascular Training
  • Dance
  • Strength
  • Core
  • Resistance
  • Training & Stretching
  • Cycling
  • Yoga/Mind- Body
  • Aquatics
  • Pilates
  • And much more!

Financial assistance for medications and therapies is available for those who qualify.

Discounts on some therapies are available for those who qualify. Everyone can qualify for at least one month’s free supply of nicotine patches or gum. Ask your counselor for details.

At Your First Appointment:

The Assessment

The first step to success is a BeSmokeFree assessment performed by a healthcare professional. The smoker is asked about his or her medical history, smoking habits, treatment preferences, triggers to smoking, and past quit attempts - what worked, what didn’t work.

These questions help determine level of addiction to nicotine and help the smoker become more aware of how and why they smoke.

• Meet with a trained tobacco treatment specialist
• Discuss your tobacco use history and reasons for wanting to change
• Learn about tools that can help you quit
• Develop a plan that meets your needs

Download Assessment Form                       Quitline Referral Form

Customized Success Plan

A BeSmokeFree Quit Smoking Now! Success Plan customized just for you!

Success Plan

By getting a complete picture of an individual smoker, the healthcare professional and the smoker can then create a customized plan for success to use in the upcoming six weeks of individual or group sessions.

The BeSmokeFree assessment takes the confusion out of the many therapies and drugs to use and for how long-and how to properly use each product for the most benefit. When combined with the six weeks of group or individual counseling sessions, the likelihood of success is significantly increased.

Your Progress Week by Week

Quitting tobacco is not easy, but embracing the support of others can make a BIG difference! For this reason, the BeSmokeFree Program offers group treatment in addition to individual support sessions. At group, you can get the support, perspective, and encouragement you need from people that know exactly what you’re going through as well as expert advice from a trained tobacco treatment specialist.

Before joining a group, you should first complete an individual assessment. Please call (305) 243-3537 to request more information or schedule your appointment.

WEEK 1: PREPARATION FOR QUIT DAY

• Triggers to smoking
• Preparing to quit
• Nicotine replacement therapy
• Level of carbon monoxide in your blood

WEEK 2: QUIT DAY

• Coping with withdrawal stress
• Management techniques
• Rewarding yourself
• Activities to replace smoking

WEEK 3: ONE WEEK TOBACCO FREE

• Understanding addiction
• Relapse prevention and support
• Avoiding those triggers

 WEEK 4: THE HARDEST PART IS OVER

• Money you save by quitting
• Nutrition and exercise

WEEK 5: IT'S GETTING EASIER

• Feeling healthier
• Lower levels of carbon monoxide in your blood

WEEK 6: CONGRATULATIONS!

• UM AHEC follow-up
• Evaluation completion
• Presentation of certificates

The Quit Smoking Now program is based on programs developed by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Cancer Institute, the American Lung Association, and State of Florida smoking cessation efforts, in concert with former smokers to make sure it is successful in the real world. We have taken the best from the best to create the BeSmokeFree / UM AHEC Quit Smoking Now program that will help you kick the habit.

Come in for a no-cost appointment to see who we are and what we can do to help you.

Call (305) 243-3537 or e-mail Scott Irwin for further details or to register for the BeSmokeFree Program.

About the Program Director

Classes are led by BeSmokeFree Program Director, Scott Irwin who is a nationally certified tobacco dependency treatment specialist certified by the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, School of Public Health.

The BeSmokeFree Program offers an extensive range of traditional, complementary, and alternative Tobacco Education and Treatment Services to help smokers improve physical, emotional, and spiritual wellness and learn vital self-management skills needed to quit smoking for life.

As a tobacco dependence treatment specialist, Irwin brings to the BeSmokeFree Program an in-depth understanding of tobacco dependence, and the essential evidence-based treatment tools necessary to help smokers achieve freedom from tobacco use.

If you're ready to quit, we're ready to help!

Consequences of Smoking

Cigarette Smoking and Cardiovascular Disease
Cigarette Smoking During Pregnancy
Facts You Should Know About Smoking
Information on Smoking Risks
Information on Smoking Cessation
National Cancer Institute
Smoking Fact Sheet
Smoking and Lung Cancer Page
The Truth About Smoke

Thinking About Becoming Smoke Free?

Cigarette Addiction
Ways to Quit Smoking
National Cancer Institute

Before You Quit

CDC Smoking Information Page
Ways to Quit Smoking

After You Become Smoke Free

National Cancer Institute

Resource Information

Action on Smoking and Health
Cancer Information Service
CDC Smoking Information Page
Joe Chemo - Test Your Smoking IQ
Tackling Tobacco and Other Health Related Issues

What is the average cost of smoking?

Do you have one-on-one BeSmokeFree Coaching Sessions Available?

Although research indicates that "group-support" in addition to the array of modalities offered in the UM BeSmokeFree Program yield the highest success rates, one-on-one coaching sessions are available to UM employees at no charge. Contact Scott Irwin at (305) 243-3537 to schedule an appointment.

Why is it so difficult to stop using tobacco?

When people try to give up tobacco, they find they miss the "habit" part of it (e.g., lighting up while on the telephone, or having something to do with their hands in social situations)

Irritability, restlessness, anxiety and sadness are common withdrawal symptoms during the first month after quitting. Sometimes poor concentration, sleep disturbance and increased appetite also cause problems. The combination of these factors plus the stresses of everyday life cause many people to relapse to tobacco within a short time.

What should I do when I think about quitting?

• List your reasons for quitting
• Set a target date
• Begin moderate exercise
• Drink plenty of water
• Eat well-balanced meals

What should I do before quitting?

• Smoke a lower-tar/nicotine brand
• Buy one pack at a time
• Limit where you smoke
• Delay lighting up
• Keep cigarettes in a different place

What are 'Stop Smoking Aids'?

• Prescription aids are available FREE-of-charge (at any campus pharmacy) to those who are enrolled in the UM health care plan
• Controlled amounts of nicotine are released into the body by nicotine patches/gum/inhalers
• Aids do not introduce harmful agents, such as those found in tobacco smoke, into the body
• Zyban, a non-nicotine replacement drug, can be helpful in reducing cravings and withdrawal.
• Always work with a doctor when deciding which aid, if any, is best .

How do I cope with stress?

• Adjust your daily routine to avoid smoking triggers
• Trash all cigarettes, ashtrays, lighters and matches
• Clear your home and car of smoke odor
• Avoid situations that typically cause you stress
• Keep busy by launching a project or starting a hobby
• Exercise to relieve nervous energy
• Practice deep breathing or other relaxation exercises

What are the new habits I should form?

• During the first few weeks, keep your hands and mouth busy
• Play with crossword puzzles
• Brush your teeth
• Breathe deeply
• Squeeze silly putty
• Chew gum
• Practice a hobby
• Chew straws/coffee stirrers
• Walk
• Write in a journal

How do I launch my smoke-free life?

• Register to participate in the University of Miami BeSmokeFree Program by calling Scott Irwin at (305)243-3537
• Ask friends/family/co-workers for support
• Establish a reward method
• Take things one-day at a time
• Call 1-800-4CANCER for free support