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Helping More Ontarians Quit Smoking

McGuinty Government Keeping Ontario Healthy

January 18, 2012

To help more Ontarians quit smoking, people undergoing treatment for drug addictions will soon have access to free counselling supports, nicotine gum and patches.

Over the next three years, the province will work with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health to help nearly 23,000 smokers undergoing addictions treatment across Ontario. Of those who enter an addiction treatment program, more die from tobacco-related disease than from all other causes combined.

Smokers in addiction treatment will get more help to quit through:

• a five-week treatment of over-the-counter nicotine replacement therapies and counseling
• follow-up counselling at key milestones to help quit for good
• advice and assistance every time they see a counsellor
• free support through the Smokers’ Helpline.

Training will also be available for addiction service providers to help them better support their clients as they quit smoking.

Helping Ontarians quit smoking is part of the McGuinty government’s action plan to transform healthcare and keep Ontario families healthy.

QUOTES

“We’ve made tremendous strides in helping Ontarians kick the habit, but too many people are still dying from preventable diseases caused by smoking.  People dealing with addictions are more likely to smoke, which is why it makes sense to extend the combination of nicotine replacement therapy and counselling to those already receiving addiction services — a move that will help save lives and keep Ontario healthy.”
— Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care

 “Evidence shows that nicotine replacement therapy, combined with counselling can double the success rates for smokers who want to quit. CAMH supports this provincial initiative and is grateful for the opportunity to play a key role in making it happen.”
— Dr. Peter Selby, Clinical Director, Addictions Program and Head of the Nicotine Dependence Clinic at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

QUICK FACTS

• Tobacco kills 13,000 people a year in Ontario.
• Tobacco-related disease costs Ontario's health care system $1.93 billion in direct health care costs and $5.8 billion in productivity losses each year.
• The percentage of Ontarians who smoke has declined from 24.5 per cent in 2000 to 18.6 per cent in 2009.
• Research indicates that combining over-the-counter smoking cessation aids with anti-smoking counselling supports is an effective way to help people quit smoking. 
• Smoking cessation supports such as counselling and nicotine replacement therapy are already available in many Public Health Units, Family Health Teams, pharmacies and hospitals.

LEARN MORE

Read about Ontario’s Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy.

Take part in the Driven to Quit Challenge.

Call the Smokers' Helpline.

Members of the media:

Zita Astravas, 416-327-9728
Minister's Office

David Jensen, 416-314-6197
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
ontario.ca/health-news