The University of Michigan’s MHealthy Tobacco Consultation Service has partnered with the American Lung Association to introduce a new initiative designed to help campus members quit smoking and other tobacco products. The “Freedom From Smoking” program is a free, seven-week course available to Michigan Medicine patients as well as University of Michigan faculty, staff, students and their families.
The program held its first session on Jan. 14 and aims to build community connections among participants, a factor organizers say can significantly improve long-term success in tobacco cessation. By encouraging peer support and accountability, the initiative hopes to provide participants with practical tools and emotional encouragement throughout their journey.
Lara Coughlin, a licensed clinical psychologist and co-director of the Michigan Innovations in Addiction Care through Research and Education program, said the course uses a hybrid approach that combines digital resources with in-person support. According to Coughlin, this blended model allows participants to access flexible tools while still benefiting from direct human interaction…