Jackie Hembree made a New Year’s resolution she plans to keep.

Hembree, a freshman corporate communications major, decided to quit smoking January 1.

She had been smoking for three years.

“It was going to be one of those things where I said ‘Yeah, I’m going to quit,’ but then I know in my head I’m not really going to,” Hembree said.

During winter break, Hembree learned her aunt Peggy had lung cancer that spread to the brain. Hembree said the cancer was a result of her aunt’s smoking.

“My mom sat me down and asked me to quit,” Hembree said. “It was to the point I knew I really had to.”

Hembree had her last cigarette just before midnight on New Year’s Eve and said she hasn’t felt much temptation since.

She quit cold turkey.

The Health Education Resource Center offers group sessions for those who have quit or are trying to quit smoking.

The HERC was awarded a $15,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Public Health that will be used to expand the center’s tobacco programs.

Erica Roa, alcohol and tobacco education coordinator, said part of the money will go towards increasing tobacco support groups for students.

The groups are open to students who live with smokers, are affected by smokers or students who are trying to quit smoking.

Roa said the HERC will also be facilitating two eight-week clinics through the American Lung Association. The Freedom from Smoking clinics will address planning, provide support and give students the tools to maintain a smoke-free lifestyle. Roa said the first clinic will begin at the end of January.

It remains to be seen how many students will actually take part in the program.

“I don’t know how many students would take advantage of (the programs),” said Wade Pacak, a senior English major. “So many people use so many different ways to quit – cold turkey, the patch, gum – I just don’t think it would be something that would help me.”

Like Hembree, Pacak recently quit smoking.

Pacak said he has not bought a pack of cigarettes since the first week of December.

When he is out with friends, Pacak said he occasionally splits a cigarette with someone else.

“What’s worked best for me is not eliminating the option of having a cigarette,” he said.

Since he has been a smoker, Pacak said he has been able to quit for up to five or six months at a time.

Pacak started smoking socially when he was 15 and seriously when he was 16.

“I don’t think I was ever really addicted to smoking,” he said. “It was just something I did. It eventually became a habit and wasn’t as enjoyable, so I decided to stop.”

Around the time Pacak decided to quit smoking in December, he said cigarettes started tasting terrible to him.

Pacak also quit smoking cold turkey and said he feels relaxed.

While Pacak said he will not use the services the HERC provides to help him quit smoking, he thinks the resources have the potential to help people who are committed to quitting and need extra support.

Pacak said he thinks the most important part of quitting smoking is that people are quitting for themselves.

“If you quit for someone else, how long is that going to last?” Pacak said.

Hembree said she feels the programs at the HERC could be helpful, but she said, for now, keeping her aunt in her thoughts is all the motivation she needs.

“If I still had the urges to smoke I would probably go,” Hembree said. “I think it is easier because I have been directly affected by my aunt, so I just won’t allow myself to have a cigarette.”

While she hopes students will use the resources the HERC provides, Roa said each person has a different way of quitting that works best for them. She said some people just haven’t found the right method yet.

“If people can stop smoking on their own, that’s awesome,” Roa said. “We offer this because some people have tried many, many different times and some have tried quitting on their own. This is just another alternative because it provides some structure and it looks at it as a lifestyle change.”

The HERC is involved with a tobacco coalition on campus. Roa said the coalition not only deals with cessation, but also education, outreach, awareness and policy.

Faculty and staff members are involved in the coalition, but Roa said she would like to see more student involvement.

“We are always welcoming student feedback,” Roa said. “That is our main audience and we want to know what they would like to see on campus.”

Barbara Harrington can be reached at 581-7945 or at bjharrington@eiu.edu.