Tobacco Facts - Quitting

There are many ways to quit smoking. Should you do it on your own? Would a group program or personal counselling be more effective? What about medications and alternate therapies? BC has a variety of services to support people who are trying to quit. Quitting is a very individual journey. Talk with your doctor, counsellor or another health professional to select the best option or combination of options for you.

QuitNow.ca™ is an Internet-based quit smoking service that is available free-of-charge to all British Columbia residents. It combines effective methods for quitting smoking with a powerful individualized program that is available anytime and anyplace. In addition to an online community that offers peer support, it provides expert advice on quitting strategies as well as information about Nicotine Replacement Therapies that may be helpful.

quitnow.ca™ is available 24/7. It creates a personal program for the smoker, depending upon where that person is in their quit attempt quitnow.ca™ users have access to:

expert counselors who provide tailored advice throughout the quitting process;
online peer-to-peer support;
quitting tools that track progress and recommend strategies to stop smoking;
a tool to help users set a personalized quit date;
quit statistics that track life expectancy gained and money saved;
quit tips and anniversary e-mails that offer long-term cessation support;
testimonials of users who have successfully quit to encourage users just beginning their quit;
certificates to celebrate key milestones; and
a directory of local and province-wide smoking cessation programs and resources.

quitnow.ca™ also offers intensive, personalized help in quitting that includes:

quitting guides that help tobacco users plan their quit attempts;
a special quitting calendar that details the day-to-day steps to quit smoking; and
a journal to record the steps taken to achieve and maintain a successful quit.

To download posters, brochures, cards, stickers, or logos, visit http://www.bc.lung.ca/quitnow/.

This strategy outlines direction and steps to educate Aboriginal people in the difference between traditional use of tobacco and tobacco misuse which has health risks. The goal is to reduce the prevalence of smoking among Aboriginal people.

quitnow by phone is a confidential tobacco cessation helpline available free-of-charge to residents of British Columbia. The service is open 7 days a week 24 hours a day so that callers can seek help when they need it most.

Callers to quitnow by phone will have access to specially trained registered nurses who can create personalized programs for callers depending on their needs. quitnow's staff will listen, support and provide reinforcement for callers facing the challenge of a quit attempt. They will also refer callers to community-based programs; send them specially designed reading materials and help them access Internet services like www.quitnow.ca.

For friends and family of smokers quitnow by phone can offer tips on supporting smokers in their attempts to quit.

If callers are not yet ready, quitnow by phone will provide information designed to support a future attempt at change.

For recent quitters, quitnow by phone will be there with support when they need it most.

Kick the Nic

Take a dozen typical young people in B.C. Chances are three of them are addicted to tobacco – and two of those want to quit, have tried and been unable to, and have told themselves they’ll try another time. Let’s face it. Quitting isn’t easy. It’s a process. Most smokers make an average of three or four quit attempts before becoming long-term non-smokers.

Kick the Nic helps people learn more about themselves, including why they smoke and prepares them for the quitting process. The program won’t – can’t – make quitting painless but it does make it possible.

Because for many people, it’s tough to quit alone, the Kick the Nic sessions provide lots of peer support, and shows participants how to get support from their friends and even their families.

If you are interested in holding a Kick the Nic session in your school or community, contact BC Centre for Addiction Research at 1-800-663-1880

If you are a young person interested in attending Kick the Nic sessions, speak to your school counsellor or call your local health authority

BC Doctors Stop Smoking Program:

Operating since 1990, this program provides BC health professionals with evidence-based educational materials and a chart-reminder system to help them provide clinical tobacco intervention to their patients.

Should I Quit Smoking Now?

Produced in partnership with the BC Doctors' Stop Smoking Program, this brochure helps you test your readiness to quit smoking, and includes some pointers to increase your chances of success.

Order from Centre for Addiction Research BC (CARBC), On Line Catalogue
www.silink.ca

On the Road to Quitting

This self-help guide helps people find out more about their relationship with cigarettes and explore quitting options. It equips them with the latest tools to deal with withdrawal and overcome other roadblocks to success, build motivation and self-confidence and deal with stress. When ready to make a plan, the step-by-step quide highlights the keys to success.

Also try out Health Canada’s online "Create A Personal Profile" to discover your smoking history, smoking habits and quitting needs:
www2.gosmokefree.ca/r2q/q.asp

Adapted for use in BC with the support of Health Canada.
Order from Centre for Addiction Research (CARBC), On Line Catalogue
www.silink.ca

References:
1. Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey (CTUMS) Feb – Dec 2002.
2. Should I Quit Smoking Now? BC Doctors’ Stop Smoking Program.
3. Health Canada’s web site Go Smoke Free: On the Road to Quitting – Benefits of Quitting.
4. Health Canada’s web site for Youth: Q4L: Why Quit – the Benefits of Quitting
5. Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission website: Truth About Tobacco, Staying Smoke Free.
6. BC Doctors’ Stop Smoking Program website: Quitting Tips.
7. The Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup website: The 2003 GCSC Dirty Dozen

Please note:
Links to other web sites are provided as a convenient source for additional information and education. Our linking to these sites does not necessarily constitute an endorsement of the organizations, their web sites and/or the information and opinions found in them. The Ministry of Health is not responsible for the content of, or any products or services offered in, these third-party sites.





			Your quitting options -- BC’s cessation programs: There are many ways to quit smoking. Should you do it on your own? Would a group program or personal counselling be more effective? What about medications and alternate therapies? BC has a variety of services to support people who are trying to quit. Quitting is a very individual journey. Talk with your doctor, counsellor or another health professional to select the best option or combination of options for you. quitnow.ca QuitNow.ca™ is an Internet-based quit smoking service that is available free-of-charge to all British Columbia residents. It combines effective methods for quitting smoking with a powerful individualized program that is available anytime and anyplace. In addition to an online community that offers peer support, it provides expert advice on quitting strategies as well as information about Nicotine Replacement Therapies that may be helpful. quitnow.ca™ is available 24/7. It creates a personal program for the smoker, depending upon where that person is in their quit attempt quitnow.ca™ users have access to: expert counselors who provide tailored advice throughout the quitting process; online peer-to-peer support; quitting tools that track progress and recommend strategies to stop smoking; a tool to help users set a personalized quit date; quit statistics that track life expectancy gained and money saved; quit tips and anniversary e-mails that offer long-term cessation support; testimonials of users who have successfully quit to encourage users just beginning their quit; certificates to celebrate key milestones; and a directory of local and province-wide smoking cessation programs and resources. quitnow.ca™ also offers intensive, personalized help in quitting that includes: quitting guides that help tobacco users plan their quit attempts; a special quitting calendar that details the day-to-day steps to quit smoking; and a journal to record the steps taken to achieve and maintain a successful quit. To download posters, brochures, cards, stickers, or logos, visit http://www.bc.lung.ca/quitnow/. BC Aboriginal Tobacco Strategy This strategy outlines direction and steps to educate Aboriginal people in the difference between traditional use of tobacco and tobacco misuse which has health risks. The goal is to reduce the prevalence of smoking among Aboriginal people. quitnow by phone 1-877-455-2233 quitnow by phone is a confidential tobacco cessation helpline available free-of-charge to residents of British Columbia. The service is open 7 days a week 24 hours a day so that callers can seek help when they need it most. Callers to quitnow by phone will have access to specially trained registered nurses who can create personalized programs for callers depending on their needs. quitnow's staff will listen, support and provide reinforcement for callers facing the challenge of a quit attempt. They will also refer callers to community-based programs; send them specially designed reading materials and help them access Internet services like www.quitnow.ca. For friends and family of smokers quitnow by phone can offer tips on supporting smokers in their attempts to quit. If callers are not yet ready, quitnow by phone will provide information designed to support a future attempt at change. For recent quitters, quitnow by phone will be there with support when they need it most. Kick the Nic Take a dozen typical young people in B.C. Chances are three of them are addicted to tobacco – and two of those want to quit, have tried and been unable to, and have told themselves they’ll try another time. Let’s face it. Quitting isn’t easy. It’s a process. Most smokers make an average of three or four quit attempts before becoming long-term non-smokers. Kick the Nic helps people learn more about themselves, including why they smoke and prepares them for the quitting process. The program won’t – can’t – make quitting painless but it does make it possible. Because for many people, it’s tough to quit alone, the Kick the Nic sessions provide lots of peer support, and shows participants how to get support from their friends and even their families. What Participants Do at Kick the Nic Sessions: Explore their reasons for smoking Discover the consequences of smoking and identify the pros and cons of continuing its use Learn strategies to resist tobacco Identify and apply techniques to reduce and manage nicotine withdrawal Commit to quitting smoking and develop specific plans Celebrate decisions to quit smoking Receive support to stay tobacco free Identify and apply strategies to cope with stress Learn how to handle a relapse and develop strategies for asking others to support them in their goal to remain tobacco free If you are interested in holding a Kick the Nic session in your school or community, contact BC Centre for Addiction Research at 1-800-663-1880 If you are a young person interested in attending Kick the Nic sessions, speak to your school counsellor or call your local health authority BC Doctors Stop Smoking Program: Operating since 1990, this program provides BC health professionals with evidence-based educational materials and a chart-reminder system to help them provide clinical tobacco intervention to their patients. For more information, call 604-638-2946 or go to www.bcdssp.com Should I Quit Smoking Now? Produced in partnership with the BC Doctors' Stop Smoking Program, this brochure helps you test your readiness to quit smoking, and includes some pointers to increase your chances of success. Order from Centre for Addiction Research BC (CARBC), On Line Catalogue www.silink.ca On the Road to Quitting This self-help guide helps people find out more about their relationship with cigarettes and explore quitting options. It equips them with the latest tools to deal with withdrawal and overcome other roadblocks to success, build motivation and self-confidence and deal with stress. When ready to make a plan, the step-by-step quide highlights the keys to success. Also try out Health Canada’s online "Create A Personal Profile" to discover your smoking history, smoking habits and quitting needs: www2.gosmokefree.ca/r2q/q.asp Download the "On the Road to Quitting" PDF file Adapted for use in BC with the support of Health Canada. Order from Centre for Addiction Research (CARBC), On Line Catalogue www.silink.ca >>>> Tobacco Truth References: 1. Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey (CTUMS) Feb – Dec 2002. 2. Should I Quit Smoking Now? BC Doctors’ Stop Smoking Program. 3. Health Canada’s web site Go Smoke Free: On the Road to Quitting – Benefits of Quitting. 4. Health Canada’s web site for Youth: Q4L: Why Quit – the Benefits of Quitting 5. Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission website: Truth About Tobacco, Staying Smoke Free. 6. BC Doctors’ Stop Smoking Program website: Quitting Tips. 7. The Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup website: The 2003 GCSC Dirty Dozen Please note: Links to other web sites are provided as a convenient source for additional information and education. Our linking to these sites does not necessarily constitute an endorsement of the organizations, their web sites and/or the information and opinions found in them. The Ministry of Health is not responsible for the content of, or any products or services offered in, these third-party sites.

Your quitting options -- BC’s cessation programs:

Kick the Nic

BC Doctors Stop Smoking Program:

Should I Quit Smoking Now?

On the Road to Quitting