Penn State students who want to quit smoking can turn to a University Health Services (UHS) program for support.

"The Quit and Win Survivor Challenge is a cessation program developed with Pennsylvania Department of Health grant money for Penn State students who would like to quit smoking," said Diana Ramos, UHS community health educator.

The program, developed in 2001, is targeted toward students who have considered quitting or reducing the number of cigarettes they smoke, Ramos said.

On average, about 50 students have participated in the program each year since it began.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 24.4 percent of young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 were smokers in 2005.

Cigarette smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the U.S., accounting for about one in every five deaths each year, according to the CDC.

"We understand [students'] challenge and support their desire to quit," Ramos said.

To sign up for the program, students should register online with UHS and be willing to answer a few questions about their smoking habits or routines. After answering the questions, participants are required to take an online assessment to determine the most appropriate method of support.

Students will then be assigned to either an individual "Quit Coach" or placed in a group support program.

"The expectation is not that students quit smoking right away," Ramos said.

Whether in individual or group support, students will be provided with cessation information and discuss triggers, smoking alternatives and nicotine replacement, Ramos said.

Dana Gamrat (freshman-elementary education) said she thought it would be a good thing to cut down on campus smoking.

"I know when I'm walking behind someone and they're smoking, I hate getting a big whiff of smoke," she said

Laura Shay (freshman-broadcast journalism) said she was surprised how many people smoke on Penn State's campus when she first arrived here.

Both said they would use the program to quit smoking if they smoked.

"If I was having a hard time quitting, it would be beneficial," Gamrat said.

Because of the difficulties of quitting smoking, the commitment has to come from the individual student, Ramos said.

"It takes the average person up to seven times to quit ... nicotine is an addiction, and as with any learned behavior, it takes time to unlearn," she said

The Quit and Win program can provide the support some students need, Ramos said.

"We're a year-round program, so any time a student feels ready, we're here to help," she said.