News

SIMCOE, JANUARY 4, 2013 – Local residents who made a new year’s resolution to quit smoking in 2013 may be able to receive some help achieving their goal thanks to a provincial program.

Smokers from across Ontario have the opportunity to enroll in the STOP (Smoking Treatment for Ontario Patients) Program and receive a five week supply of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), free of charge, to help them in their attempt to quit smoking. Participants will also be given useful information on quit smoking strategies and other resources to assist them through the quitting process.

“While it has been shown that attempts to quit smoking are more successful when done with the help of counselling and nicotine replacement therapy, for many smokers the cost of nicotine replacement products such as gum, patches or inhalers can be a barrier to quitting,” noted Fiaza Siddiqi, Tobacco Use Prevention Health Promoter with the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit.

The Health Unit is partnering with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health to conduct the STOP program in Haldimand and Norfolk Counties. The program is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care as part of its Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy.

“Quitting smoking is the single most important thing a smoker can do to improve their health and wellbeing, so we’re excited to be able to offer some free NRT and support for people in our area who are ready to make that change,” added Siddiqi.

Anyone interested in participating in the STOP program is asked to call the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit at 519-426-6170 ext. 3265 (Norfolk) or 905-318-5367 ext. 364 (Haldimand) to determine if they are eligible for the program. Program participants are required to attend an afternoon or evening workshop, to be held in Norfolk on January 22 and in Haldimand on January 23. All information collected through the program is kept confidential.

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Media contact:
Fiaza Siddiqi
Tobacco Use Prevention Health Promoter
Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit
905.318.5367 Ext. 364
[email protected]