Behavioral Health Solutions of South Texas recently removed 2,431 cigarette butts from around the UTRGV library and nearby buildings on the Edinburg campus.
Located at 5510 N. Cage Blvd. in Pharr, the organization is a nonprofit center for integrated intervention, treatment and research. It is partnering with the UTRGV Collegiate Recovery Program to assist students in quitting smoking.
The group currently consists of around 80 coalition members and is mostly run by volunteers. Only six are official staff members.
They hope to help make the Rio Grande Valley tobacco free through the services, with the main goal of stopping tobacco use.
“We feel that tobacco is overlooked. A lot of schools and programs focus on harder drugs. They don’t view tobacco as that big of a threat,” said Rafael Cepeda, the center’s tobacco prevention specialist.
Erac Mastem, a media specialist for Behavioral Health Solutions, said smoking is the No. 1 cause of preventable death.
The center offers prevention presentations, intervention services and offers to help people stop smoking. Additionally, they work with school districts and host numerous activities, which include health fairs, art competitions and youth conferences.
UTRGV has had a Tobacco-Free Workplace Policy since August 2015. However, the policy still has not completely stopped smoking on campus. On May 31, Behavioral Health Solutions helped remove cigarette butts from the university. Due to construction, they were not able to go all over campus. Despite this, they managed to pick up 1,767 cigarette butts. On Sept. 28, they did the same and picked up 664. Both times, the cleanup only took place around the library and Performing Arts buildings.
Raymond J. Salas, a coalition member who also works for UTRGV’s Collegiate Recovery Program, said there are different ways the program can help students stop smoking.
“We talk to them about the consequences,” Salas said. “We have a form where they can fill out, and we submit it to the state. They could receive free products, as far as the patch, the gum and lozenges.”
Students interested in helping may contact Volunteer Specialist Yolanda Guzman at yguzman@bhsst.org. Internship and volunteer hours are available through the organization. Participants can do cleanups on their own or with others, set up an information table or can be educated and then teach others anywhere in the community.
“That’s the goal of the coalition. We want it to be self-sustained,” Cepeda said.
For more information, contact Cepeda at 787-004, Ext. 13. Interested individuals can also call Coalition Coordinator Gilda Bowen at 787-0004, Ext. 18.
