The week (January 18-24) marks the annual celebration of National Non-Smoking Week (NNSW), which provides an opportunity to encourage people who smoke to consider joining thousands of others as they take their first steps to becoming smoke-free. Counselling and medication, such as nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) like the patch, is the best support we can recommend to anyone trying to quit. Here are a few services and supports that Ottawa Public Health recommends:
- Telehealth Ontario provides no cost and confidential smoking cessation service 24 hours, seven days a week. Registered nurses at Telehealth can help develop a quit-smoking plan, answer questions and provide referrals to programs and services in the community, including information on how to access quit-smoking products. For help to quit smoking, residents can call Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000. For information and /or referral to support services and resources in Ottawa and across the province, residents can connect with Connex Ontario 1-866-531-2600 or visit their website Mental Health & Addiction Treatment Services | Connex Ontario
- Residents can also sign-up online and get free NRT patches and gum mailed to them by joining STOP on the Net | Nicotine Dependence Services (nicotinedependenceclinic.com) or the Community Program | Ottawa Model for Smoking Cessation (ottawaheart.ca) by calling 1-888-645-5405 or by emailing [email protected].
- For OHIP covered tailored quit plans and one-on-one support in a nurse led clinic, residents can register with the Quit Smoking Program by calling 613-696-7069 or emailing [email protected].
- Non-Insured Health Benefits Program provides clients (registered First Nations and recognized Inuit) with coverage for a range of health benefits, including prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications, dental and vision care, mental health counselling and smoking cessation treatments. For more information, please visit Indigenous Services Canada web site at: www.canada.ca/nihb or call toll free 1 (800) 640-0642 (for residents of Ontario).
- Your neighbourhood Community Health Centre (CHC) and many Family Health Teams (FHT) in the community also offer quit smoking counselling and/or no cost nicotine replacement therapy; while doctors, nurse practitioners and pharmacists can prescribe quit smoking medications.
- For more information about other resources to help Ottawa residents reduce or quit smoking, please visit Ottawa Public Health’s website at OttawaPublicHealth.ca/WellnessServicesAndResources.
What about vaping?
Completely substituting cigarettes for vapour products reduces exposure to numerous toxicants and carcinogens. However, vapour products are not harmless and the long-term health effects are unknown. In addition, there is a lack of evidence that using vapour products as a smoking cessation aid is effective. If a person does decide to use vaping products to reduce or to quit smoking, counselling can help. They can reach out to one of the services listed above. Additionally, OPH has released two new resources to help people stay informed:
- Vaping: What’s really in that cloud? (Myth vs Fact) – This fact sheet addresses common misconceptions about vaping and provides clear, evidence-based information to help make informed decisions.
- Nicotine pouches fact sheet – Learn what nicotine pouches are, their health implications, and important considerations for youth and adults.
If you are interested to learn more on the health effects of commercial tobacco, vaping, cannabis, smoke-free/vape-free regulations and resources related to mental health and substance use health, OPH has developed a new free online course on these topics on the Olearn platform.
