Vaping, E-Cigarette and Tobacco Cessation Help

New! Wellness Coaching for Nicotine Cessation 

Nicotine cessation coaching for vaping, smoking, or using smokeless tobacco products is now available for U-M students at Wolverine Wellness. Click here to learn more and make an appointment with a coach who specializes in nicotine cessation. 

Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is available at no cost for students who participate in coaching. 


Health Alerts: 


Looking to gain control and save some money along the way? U-M is a tobacco-free campus, and students, faculty, and staff can get support for quitting  Learn more at the Tobacco-Free University Initiative webpage.


On this page:


There is no better time to quit:

Millions have quit smoking, vaping, and stopped using e-cigarettes, and you can quit too. Given the U-M Tobacco-Free Initiative, there is no better time – even if you've thought about quitting before, tried to quit, or successfully quit in the past and started again.

Remember, if at first you don't succeed, quit, quit again! And hey, keep in mind that 94% of U-M students have not smoked cigarettes in the past month (the vast majority have never used cigarettes), so you'll have a lot of support! (U-M NCHA, 2016)


What about hookahs?

Hookah pipes (also known as narghile, shisha, and goza) originated in the Middle East and have recently become popular on many college campuses. Flavored tobacco, which is often used in hookahs, is sweet and marketed toward younger people.

The tobacco is heated in a water pipe and the smoke is moved through the water in the base. It's commonly assumed that hookah pipes are safer than cigarettes because the smoke is "filtered" through the water. In reality, the water only cools the smoke; it does not filter it.

The tobacco inhaled is similar to smoking an unfiltered cigarette. It has the same cancer-causing substances and is as addictive.

Also, smoking hookah pipes may cause more lung damage than cigarettes because hookah smokers tend to inhale much more smoke than cigarette smokers during a typical smoking session, exposing users to higher levels of nicotine, carbon monoxide, and other carcinogens found in tobacco. In fact, an hour spent smoking a hookah delivers as much carbon monoxide to the user as smoking a pack of cigarettes.

Again, smoking hookah is a rarity: 97% of U-M students have not used hookah in the past month (the vast majority have never used it).

Want more? See the CDC fact sheet on hookah and its health effects.


Physical benefits of quitting

From the American Cancer Society

20 minutes after quitting

Your heart rate and blood pressure drop.

12 hours after quitting

The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.

2 weeks to 3 months after quitting

Your circulation improves and your lung function increases.

1 to 9 months after quitting

Coughing and shortness of breath decrease; cilia (tiny hair-like structures that move mucus out of the lungs) start to regain normal function in the lungs, increasing the ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce the risk of infection.

1 year after quitting

The excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a continuing smoker.

2-5 years after quitting

The risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, and bladder is cut in half. Cervical cancer risk falls to that of a non-smoker. Stroke risk can fall to that of a non-smoker.

10 years after quitting

The risk of dying from lung cancer is about half that of a person who is still smoking. The risk of cancer of the larynx (voice box) and pancreas decreases.

15 years after quitting

The risk of coronary heart disease is that of a non-smoker.

These are just a few of the benefits of quitting smoking for good. Quitting smoking lowers the risk of diabetes, lets blood vessels work better, and helps the heart and lungs. Quitting while you are younger will reduce your health risks more, but quitting at any age can give back years of life that would be lost by continuing to smoke.


Resources for quitting:

UHS resources:

Wellness Coaching for Nicotine Cessation: One-on-one coaching support with a specialized nicotine cessation coach. Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is available at no cost for students who sign up to coach. 

Schedule an Appointment with a UHS clinician to discuss your health and quitting. See also Who Can Use UHS? for eligibility.


Local programs:

MHealthy Tobacco Consultation Service (for faculty and staff) 
734-998-6222
Free nicotine replacement products for faculty or staff who meet one-on-one with a Tobacco Treatment Specialist

Freedom from Smoking
American Lung Association
800-586-4872

  • Free online program with a focus on withdrawal symptoms, weight control, stress management, assertiveness, and relaxation techniques
  • Group sessions for 10 or more people; fees may apply

Veterans Administration Center
Call toll-free 800-361-8387 and ask for your primary care team to help you with tobacco.
One-on-one counseling. The focus is on smoking reduction and/or cessation using nicotine replacement therapy, Zyban, and Chantix. Only for veterans (free).


Smoking cessation products may help you to quit if you are addicted to nicotine. 

Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) products: These products provide nicotine to ease withdrawal symptoms (such as nervousness, restlessness, irritability, headache, dizziness, and stomach upset) until you are weaned from smoking. 

Non-prescription NRT products are:

  • Patches, applied once a day, provide a steady amount of nicotine through your skin.
  • Nicotine gum is chewed and held in your mouth throughout the day.
  • Nicotine lozenges are used throughout the day so nicotine is absorbed through your mouth.

Prescription NRT products are:

  • Nicotrol Inhaler, which has a plastic mouthpiece similar to a cigarette. Cartridges containing nicotine are placed into the mouthpiece and puffed on for up to 20 minutes.
  • Nicotrol nasal spray is absorbed through your nose and is used several times a day.

Non-nicotine products, available by prescription, can also assist in smoking cessation. Talk to a clinician if you are interested in these products:

  • Zyban (bupropion HIC) is believed to work on the brain chemistry involved in nicotine addiction and withdrawal. Zyban comes in pill form and is usually taken twice a day.
  • Chantix (varenicline tartrate) works on nicotine receptors in the brain. It is believed to decrease the reward mechanism of smoking and reduce the urge to smoke. It comes in pill form and is taken once or twice a day. It may cause serious neuropsychiatric symptoms. Before starting Chantix, tell your clinician about any history of psychiatric illness. While taking it, inform your clinician of behavior and mood changes.

Other resources:

Family and friends: Social support is probably the most valuable resource! Ask for what you need - encouragement, congratulations, or company. If you know someone else who wants to quit, try a buddy system.

Michigan Department of Community Health offers a Tobacco Quit Line at 800-784-8669.

National Cancer Institute  800-4-CANCER

Nicotine Anonymous uses a 12-step approach. Free. 415-750-0328

The American Cancer Society (ACS)  sponsors the Great American Smokeout, an event that challenges smokers to quit, one day at a time, and connects people with local resources. 800-227-2345 or 877-44U-QUIT

Internet: Try using search terms such as "nicotine" or "smoking" for tobacco facts, tips for quitting, and online support groups. Our standout favorite is thetruth.com