Program helps smokers butt out

THE theme for this year's national Non-Smoking Week, Jan 15-21, is breaking up is hard to do, but breaking up with tobacco this new year is easier for British Columbians thanks to B.C.'s Smoking Cessation Program.

According to a written statement, since the program launched in September 2011, more than 63,000 B.C. residents have called 811 for free access to nicotine replacement therapies. Approximately 37,000 of these have been requests for first-time orders, representing almost seven per cent of B.C. smokers, 24,000 have been requests for refill orders and more than 19,000 people have obtained a prescription smoking cessation drug while visiting their physician for another reason.

The Smoking Cessation Program helps people stop smoking or using other tobacco products by assisting with the cost of smoking cessation aids. Once each calendar year, B.C. residents enrolled with the Medical Services Plan can receive PharmaCare coverage of a single continuous course of treatment of a prescription smoking cessation drug or a free 12-week supply of a nicotine replacement gum or patches. After registering for the program, British Columbians can receive further support in quitting smoking from QuitNow Services.