For smokers thinking about quitting, there are resources available to help them kick their habit for good.
Telephone counselling is one option that can help.
Studies show smokers who receive phone counselling are more likely to stay smoke-free than those who don’t receive counselling.
In Canada, all provinces and territories offer free telephone counselling to smokers through ‘quitlines’ that provide telephone support from trained responders who can help users develop a personal quit plan, answer any questions about quitting and help locate quit smoking services in their community. They can also offer information and resources to callers who wish to support someone in the quitting process.
As of June 19, retailers may sell only cigarettes and little cigars featuring new, larger health warning labels. Each new health warning includes a toll-free quitline number and web address – a first for tobacco health warnings in Canada.
Calling the quitline number (1-866-366-3667) connects callers to free counselling services, while the web address (www.gosmokefree.gc.ca/quit) links users to online resources such as quit smoking information and, in some cases, web-based counselling services.
The new health warnings, developed by Health Canada, include: information about diseases recently confirmed to be caused by smoking; facts about the health benefits of quitting; and messages from individuals whose lives have been negatively affected by tobacco use.