News

Simcoe. January 4^th, 2016. The Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit is pleased to announce the Quit Smoking Clinics. The Clinics will run in Simcoe, Caledonia and Dunnville and will offer individual counselling and no cost nicotine replacement therapy. All residents of Haldimand and Norfolk who want to quit smoking are eligible to come to the Clinic.

A public health nurse will help each client create a personalized quit plan to meet their needs by pin pointing triggers and developing strategies to live tobacco free. Clients will be able to get nicotine patches, gum or lozenges for free to help them manage withdrawal symptoms. Combining counselling with nicotine replacement therapy doubles the chances of successfully quitting.

“Smoking rates in Haldimand and Norfolk are higher than the provincial average,” said Michelle Lyne, program manager for Community Health at the HNHU. “Since one half of people who smoke will get a tobacco related illness, helping people to quit smoking is a priority in both counties.”

Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death in Canada, and is a risk factor for chronic disease such as cancer, respiratory and cardiovascular disease. The risk of heart disease is cut in half after one year of quitting smoking, and the odds of getting many diseases go down the longer you are smoke free.

Quitting smoking is a process and usually takes more than one try.  The goal of the Quit Clinics is to help more people be successful with their quit attempts.

For more information or to book an appointment at the Quit Clinics, please contact the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit at 519-426-6170 or 905-318-6623, extension 3278 or visit www.hnhu.org/QuitClinics

Contact:

Michelle Lyne

Program Manager, Community Health

Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit

Phone 519-426-6170 / 905-318-6623 Ext. 3238