Tobacco kills 1/3 to 1/2 of all people who use it an average of 15 years prematurely.
The benefits of quitting smoking start immediately:
• Within 8 hours oxygen levels in your body go back to normal
• Within 48 hours the chances of having a heart attack go down and your sense of smell and taste start to improve
• Within 72 hours your lungs relax making it easier to breathe
• Within 2 weeks to 3 months the blood flow through your body and air flow through your lungs get better
• Within 6 months coughing, tiredness, sinus congestion and shortness of breath all improve
The benefits of quitting smoking continue for life:
• Within 1 year the risk of a heart attack from smoking drops to half of that of someone who still smokes
• Within 10 years the chances of dying from lung cancer drops to half of that of someone who still smokes
• Within 15 years the risk of dying from a heart attack becomes the same as a person who has never smoked
One can always find a reason why now is not the right time to quit. But the reasons to quit, including damage to one’s health, never go away and continue to cause harm as time goes on. Life will always have stress. Quit now and you will reap the benefits sooner!
Evidence has shown that depression and anxiety improve with smoking cessation. Although nicotine may cause a short-term elevation in mood due to the release of dopamine in the brain, nicotine is a stimulant and can actually worsen feelings of anxiety and low mood, and increase stress levels. When someone is smoking daily they experience withdrawal symptoms regularly throughout the day, which affect mood. Irritability, negative mood and anxiety are common withdrawal symptoms, and may be misinterpreted as depressive symptoms among individuals who smoke or who are making a quit attempt. These symptoms can be reduced or eliminated when quitting with medication support or nicotine replacement therapy.
Yes! Nearly all vaping products contain nicotine which is a very addictive substance. You may need support to quit vaping. The long term effects of vaping are still unknown, but vaping can cause serious lung injury even with short-term use. We can help you quit vaping. Please contact the clinic to set up an appointment.
The success rate for people quitting on their own is 5% at 1 year. Over 75% of unaided quit attempts fail within 7 days. Having the support of a smoking cessation counsellor triples your chance of success and counselling combined with medication or nicotine replacement therapy increases your success rate 6 times!
Our Smoking Cessation Program is structured around the University of Ottawa Heart Institute’s Ottawa Model for Smoking Cessation in Primary Care. This Model has been proven to help people quit smoking and involves a common approach to:
- Identify patients’ smoking status at clinic visits
- Advise patients on strategies to quit smoking
- Provide assistance with quitting
- Ensure follow-up counselling to help patients stay smoke-free
Visit the University of Ottawa Heart Institute’s website for more information: https://ottawamodel.ottawaheart.ca/about-omsc
Our smoking cessation program is only available to people with a primary care provider at BWFHT. We have listed some great programs below, and find more information in the resources section above.
Ontario Residents
STOP on the Net – SOTN provides an 8 week supply of nicotine patches and nicotine gum or lozenges delivered to your home. Participants that enroll will NOT be eligible to enroll in our regular STOP Program for 12 months and vice versa. Internet access is required for enrolment. www.stoponthenet.com
The Ottawa Model for Smoking Cessation (OMSC) Community Program is for Ontarians who want to quit smoking but are not enrolled with a health care provider or cannot easily access smoking cessation support. Eligible participants will receive a consultation, follow-up support, and nicotine replacement therapy. Call 1-888-645-5405 and leave your contact information on the voicemail. A Nicotine Addiction Specialist will get back to you within 2 business days. https://ottawamodel.ottawaheart.ca/community ODB – Ontario Drug Benefit covers Zyban and Champix for seniors and patients on ODSP or Ontario Works. Your doctor or pharmacist can prescribe them.
Quebec Residents
RAMQ covers up to 12 weeks of nicotine patches and 840 units of gum or lozenges annually with a prescription. Zyban and Champix are also covered. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for a prescription.
NIHB
Aboriginal Canadians can receive nicotine replacement products, Champix, and Zyban through the national drug plan. Your doctor or pharmacist can prescribe them.
Private Insurance
If you have private insurance, call to check your coverage. Zyban and Champix are often covered and nicotine patches may be covered with a prescription. Or, you may be able to use your Health Care Spending Account. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for a prescription.
No. Unsmoke is run by the tobacco company Phillip Morris. It is a marketing ploy to keep customers by encouraging them to switch to electronic cigarettes (vaping products) or heated tobacco products (iQOS, TEEPS) rather than quitting tobacco. The intent is to make profit; it is an advertising campaign disguised as a tool to help people quit smoking. It is misleading and fails to communicate the risks associated with using these products and their addictive properties.
