Smoke- and Tobacco-Free UCSF

All UCSF employees are required to be tobacco-free while at work, during any scheduled work shift (including all breaks) whether on or off campus.

Learn more about the UC Smoke- and Tobacco-Free Policy in this video.

Smoke-Free Workplace

To ensure a healthy environment for all, UCSF is and has been a smoke-free campus since 2008. Smoking is prohibited on University-owned or leased property and in buildings, vehicles and moving equipment. This policy applies to all members of the campus community, including faculty, staff, students, patients and visitors, at all UCSF sites.

Tobacco-Free at Work

UCSF’s “Tobacco-Free at Work” policy requires all faculty, staff, students, vendors and contractors of UCSF to be completely tobacco-free while at work or on scheduled class time. Use of tobacco products (including e-cigarettes) is prohibited by employees during any scheduled work shift, including breaks that occur on or outside of UCSF Campus and Medical Center locations. This UCSF policy provides a tobacco-free environment for the preservation and protection of the health of our faculty, staff, students, patients and visitors.

These resources are available to UCSF faculty, staff, and students.

Free nicotine replacement therapy

UCSF provides free nicotine replacement therapy to UCSF faculty, staff and students. Free nicotine replacement gum is available through Occupational Health Services. Please bring your UCSF ID badge.This program is designed to help current tobacco users quit or curb their urge to use tobacco during their work shifts.

UCSF Fontana Tobacco Treatment Center

The UCSF Fontana Tobacco Treatment Center is staffed by nurses and pharmacists who are specially trained in treating tobacco dependence. The center provides group programs available to those who wish to quit smoking. Call 415-885-7895 to enroll, or visit the center website.

Center services

Stop Smoking Class: This class is designed to help people stop smoking. Suzanne Harris, a registered nurse, certified tobacco treatment specialist and former smoker, leads an interactive course focusing on smoking and health, addiction, strategies for quitting and motivation.

Relapse Prevention Program: This class is for graduates of the Stop Smoking Class, even those who aren’t yet smoke-free, and provides extra support to help people become and stay smoke-free.

All classes are located in conference rooms at the Medical Center’s Mount Zion campus. No referrals are required to make an appointment or enroll in a class.

Wellness & Community will provide reimbursement for the program (if employee’s health insurance does not cover):

• A four-week Cessation Program (value of $55)
• Relapse prevention visits, up to 10 visits (value of $50)
• Medication assistance, such as nicotine patch, gum, Chantix, etc. (up to $75 with receipts)

Optum Quit for Life Phone and Web-Based Program

The Quit For Life® Smoking Cessation Program is brought to you by the American Cancer Society and Optum and is provided completely free of charge to all UCSF faculty, staff, and students.

When you join the Quit For Life Program, you will create a quitting plan that is designed to meet your individual needs and provide you with as much help as you need, when you need it. You’ll have access to an online learning and social support community, a printed workbook, nicotine replacement therapy, and toll-free access to dedicated Quit Coaches who are always ready to offer you expert support.

The Quit For Life Program will teach you the techniques and provide the tools needed to be ready, both physically and emotionally, to quit using tobacco for life.

Call 1-866-QUIT-4-LIFE (866-784-8454) or go online to enroll or find more information.

The Quit For Life® Program is brought to the member by the American Cancer Society and Optum. The two organizations have 35 years of combined experience in tobacco cessation coaching and have helped more than 1 million tobacco users. Together they will help millions more make a plan to quit, realizing the American Cancer Society’s mission to save lives and create a world with more birthdays.

Smoking cessation classes at ZSFG

Visit the San Francisco Tobacco-Free Project website to see when the next class is scheduled.

UCSF Health Plan smoking cessation resources

All UC-sponsored non-Medicare medical plans provide prescription and over-the-counter tobacco cessation products at no additional cost when prescribed by a physician, along with optional behavioral modification programs to help you quit smoking. Learn what your UC-sponsored health plan offers.

California Smokers’ Helpline

Available to all Californians, the California Smokers’ Helpline provides phone counseling, text messaging support, online resources, and for some populations, free nicotine patches. Call 1-800-NO BUTTS.

If you are a supervisor/manager and need assistance with addressing policy compliance, consult the Office of the President UC Smoke- & Tobacco-Free Policy overview website. Resources include:

• Supervisor Talking Points
• FAQs
• Sample communications

For additional assistance, consult with Labor and Employee Relations.

The following resources may be useful for providers providing information on cessation resources to patients:

• E-Cigarette Provider Materials
• Pharmacologic Product Guide: FDA-Approved Medications for Smoking Cessation