Student Health clinics will be closed for winter break from Mon, Dec 22, 2025, to Fri, Jan 2, 2026. For urgent concerns while clinic is closed, please click on the After-Hours tab below.

x

Substance Use

University Student Health Services > Patient Resources > Substance Use

Quitting Tobacco & Vaping

Student Health
  • Students can request a 30-minute appointment at Student Health to discuss nicotine cessation strategies and treatments.  Call 804-828-8828 for Monroe Park and 804-828-9220 for MCV.
  • Read our patient education brochures, which provide an extensive list of resources and quit tips: Smoking Cessation - Quit Plan and Medications and Smoking Cessation - Helping Others.
  • Low-cost over-the-counter nicotine replacement products are available for purchase from Student Health.  Click on the link to view our OTC products and prices.  
Other Resources
  • Is vaping better than smoking?  In general, vaping is considered less harmful than smoking cigarettes, but it is still not safe.  Learn more at rethinkvape.org and Johns Hopkins.  If you are thinking about quitting, schedule a 30-minute appointment at Student Health to learn about options and/or check out the quit resources below.
  • Visit the CDC's Quit Tips from Former Smokers and smokefree.gov for free online resources, texting programs, the quitSTART app, and more.
  • The EX Program, offered by the Truth Initiative in collaboration with the Mayo Clinic, is a free digital platform for quitting nicotine, with access to a dedicated community of experts and experienced quitters.  Research shows that the EX Program can increase the odds of quitting by up to 40%.  Click on the link to get your free personalized quit plan and support.
  • 1-800-QUIT-NOW offers free phone and chat consultations for smoking cessation.  Studies show that quitlines increase the likelihood of success by 20-30%.  Give it a try!

Alcohol, Cannabis & Other Drug Use

VCU RecWell

RecWell Health Promotion offers support and resources to students with questions or concerns about alcohol and/or drug use.  Examples include:

  • Free online self-assessment with immediate anonymous feedback.
  • Well-Being Coaching for students sanctioned for alcohol or cannabis use.  This program requires a minimum of 3 weeks to complete and is administered in collaboration with University Counseling Services.
VCU Recovery Support

Rams in Recovery (RIR) is VCU's Collegiate Recovery Program which works to support students in all stages of recovery.  To connect or learn more, email recovery@vcu.edu, call Tom Bannard at 804-828-1663, schedule through Calendly, or check out the Rams in Recovery facebook page.  RIR offers an extensive support community and other resources, such as:

Patient Education Brochures