The thought of quitting smoking can be overwhelming especially when one considers the variety of daily challenges many of us encounter. Quitting smoking can be a very difficult thing to do; after all, many people have been smoking for years. It takes both time and planning to break the habit and overcome the addiction to nicotine. According to Health Canada, smoking is the number one preventable cause of death and disease. “Quitting smoking is the best thing you can do to improve your health,” said Sandra Schmidt a
public health nurse with Durham Region Health Department.“If you’ve tried to quit in the past and were not successful, don’t give up.

Each quit attempt is a step in the right direction.” Ask yourself, “What went wrong?” “What was it that triggered you to start again?” When you’re ready to try again, know that you are not alone, and that there are people and resources ready to help you. Now, more than ever, support is available in the community to help people to quit. The Durham Regional Health Department offers free quit smoking groups and other resources by calling Durham Health Connection Line at 905-666-6241 or visiting online at www.region.durham.on.ca.

If groups are not what you’re looking for, Smokers’ Helpline is another option and it is available seven days a week. It is staffed by trained quit specialists who can help smokers prepare a quit plan, and provides tips for those really tough situations. They also have an interactive web-based service offering tips, tools and support, at www.smokershelpline.ca . Smokers looking to quit may also be eligible to receive five weeks of free Nicotine Replacement Therapy through the STOP (Stop Smoking Therapy for Ontario Patients) Study.

Information on this study can be found at www.stopstudy.ca . Smokers can also talk to their doctor, nurse or pharmacist if interested in quitting. These medical specialists want to provide quitters with the best advice they can in order to assist smokers quit.