London, ON –National Non-Smoking Week kicks off today and the Middlesex London Health Unit is reminding tobacco users that quitting takes practice…so practice often! It may take between seven and 30 quit attempts before being able to break the addiction for good, so if at first you don’t succeed, try again. Getting tobacco out of their lives is one of the best things anyone can do for their health and well-being; and there’s never been a better time to quit. New amendments to the Smoke-Free Ontario Act came into effect on January 1st, 2016, banning the sale of flavoured tobacco products.
“Flavours are used by the tobacco industry as a marketing tactic to recruit and hook the next generation of tobacco users,” says Linda Stobo, Chronic Disease Prevention and Tobacco Control Manager for the Middlesex-London Health Unit. “Tobacco is a difficult addiction to overcome, but the good news is many have already quit successfully, or they have plans to. With cherry, honey, and berry-flavoured tobacco products now off the shelf, tobacco users young and old can be supported in their quit attempts without having the added temptation of candy- and fruit-flavoured tobacco at every corner store.”
The Health Unit is visiting tobacco retailers to provide education on the new rules and to work with vendors to ensure that flavoured tobacco products are off the shelves. Policies that limit the availability and the appeal of tobacco products, along with the provision of cessation services and supports, work together to increase each individual’s effort to become tobacco free.
According to the 2013/2014 Canadian Community Health Survey, 43.7% of daily and occasional smokers in Middlesex-London plan on quitting in the next six months. The good news is that there are supports and services in Ontario to help tobacco users quit. Tobacco users can access trained quit specialists by calling the Smokers’ HelpLine (@SmokersHelpline on Twitter) toll-free at 1-877-513-5333 to start a plan. In addition, many family health teams in the community offer quit smoking counselling and/or offer free nicotine replacement therapy; while doctors, nurse practitioners and pharmacists can prescribe quit smoking medications like varenicline and buproprion.
For more information on the local quit smoking supports and services that are available, please contact the Middlesex-London Health Unit’s Quit Clinic at 519-663-5317, ext. HELP (4357).
Media Contact:
Dan Flaherty, Communications Manager, Middlesex-London Health Unit, 519-663-5317 extension 2469 or 519-617-0570 (cell.)
Spokesperson:
Linda Stobo, Program Manager, Chronic Disease Prevention and Tobacco Control