Helping British Columbians
to quit smoking
should be a priority
for the BC government.
Did you know...
Most smokers
try to quit four or
five times before
succeeding.
Did you know...
Tobacco use costs the BC economy $2.3 billion annually.
Did you know...
A large portion
of BC smokers
want to quit.
The Canadian Cancer Society is urging the BC government and Liberal and NDP leadership candidates to support smokers who wish to quit by providing funding for nicotine replacement therapies (NRT) for those British Columbia smokers trying to quit.
During National Non-smoking Week (January 16-22, 2011), the BC government can reassert British Columbia's leadership position in tobacco control. Addicted smokers should be supported when they make a decision to try and quit, improve their health and prevent cancer.
Tobacco interventions* help smokers quit.
NRT, such as the nicotine patch and nicotine gum, combined with physician counseling have a proven record of treating tobacco addiction. Similar improvements in quitting success result from medications that mimic the effects of nicotine on the brain.
Although BC's smoking rates are at 15%, one of the lowest in the country, cigarette smoking causes about 30% of cancer deaths in Canada and about 85% of lung cancer cases. More work needs to be done if we want to see smoking rates reduce further. If we know that smoking is an addiction, we should help pay for treatment for the estimated 70% of smokers who wish to quit.
British Columbia would become the third Canadian province to pay for smoking cessation products. Quebec was first; Saskatchewan the second.
*Before using smoking cessation aids check with your healthcare provider as they are unsuitable in certain situations.
Ready to quit?
We commend the BC government for continuing to fund QuitNow.ca and QuitNow by Phone, free smoking cessation programs that are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to all British Columbians.
If you are in the Yukon and thinking about quitting, call 1 877 513-5333.
If you're ready to quit smoking, download our One Step at a Time guide (pdf).
For more quick smoking resources, visit cancer.ca
During National Non-smoking Week (January 16-22, 2011), the BC government can reassert British Columbia's leadership position in tobacco control. Addicted smokers should be supported when they make a decision to try and quit, improve their health and prevent cancer.
Tobacco interventions* help smokers quit.
NRT, such as the nicotine patch and nicotine gum, combined with physician counseling have a proven record of treating tobacco addiction. Similar improvements in quitting success result from medications that mimic the effects of nicotine on the brain.
Although BC's smoking rates are at 15%, one of the lowest in the country, cigarette smoking causes about 30% of cancer deaths in Canada and about 85% of lung cancer cases. More work needs to be done if we want to see smoking rates reduce further. If we know that smoking is an addiction, we should help pay for treatment for the estimated 70% of smokers who wish to quit.
British Columbia would become the third Canadian province to pay for smoking cessation products. Quebec was first; Saskatchewan the second.
*Before using smoking cessation aids check with your healthcare provider as they are unsuitable in certain situations.
Ready to quit?
We commend the BC government for continuing to fund QuitNow.ca and QuitNow by Phone, free smoking cessation programs that are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to all British Columbians.
If you are in the Yukon and thinking about quitting, call 1 877 513-5333.
If you're ready to quit smoking, download our One Step at a Time guide (pdf).
For more quick smoking resources, visit cancer.ca