It's good to be a quitter. Here's some help
Friday, February 22, 2013 by: SooToday.com Staff
NEWS RELEASE
ALGOMA PUBLIC HEALTH
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STOP Program: Support for Ontario smokers who wish to quit smoking
Smokers from across Ontario have the opportunity to enroll in the STOP (Smoking Treatment for Ontario Patients) Program and receive nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), free of charge to help them in their attempt to quit smoking.
For many smokers, the cost of nicotine replacement products can be a barrier to quitting.
The STOP Program provides five weeks of free NRT, a practical support for alleviation of nicotine withdrawal symptoms, which has been shown to be effective to help people quit smoking.
Those interested in participating in the STOP program may do so by attending a STOP workshop, to be held in:
Elliot Lake
March 19, 2013
6 to 9 p.m.
Call 1-877-748-2314 ext. 4012
Blind River
March 20, 2013
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Call 1-888-356-2551, ext. 5009
Sault Ste. Marie
March 20, 2013
6 to 9 p.m.
March 21, 2013
9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Call 705-942-4646 ext. 3058
To see if you are eligible to participate, and to register for the workshop(s) please call the number for your city/town.
The STOP Program is conducted by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), and is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care as part of its Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy.
In addition to providing NRT, the STOP Program will offer educational material to encourage the program participants to make broader changes that can improve their overall health.
Often smoking does not occur in isolation, but rather accompanies other risk factors for disease, such as poor nutrition and lack of physical activity.
CAMH is Canada’s leading addiction and mental health teaching hospital. Integrating clinical care, scientific research, education, policy development and health promotion, CAMH transforms the lives of people impacted by mental health and addiction issues.
Background: The STOP Program
Introduced in 2005 through a partnership between the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and the former Ministry of Health Promotion and Sport, the STOP Program has already provided nicotine replacement therapy including nicotine gum and patches, as well as bupropion and varenicline, free of charge, along with counseling support to an unprecedented 80,000 people from across Ontario.
Baseline questionnaires and follow-up surveys, spaced over six months post treatment will help the STOP Program researchers learn more about the long-term impact of providing nicotine replacement therapy and other smoking cessation aid free of charge to smokers across Ontario.
To date, results for STOP participants have shown an improvement of at least two times the typical quit rates.
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scottstewy123 2/22/2013 2:57:52 PM Reportwere was this program when i needed it
Brianne 2/22/2013 3:22:18 PM ReportYes , lets all take a drug that causes severe side affects !
Chantix, also called varenicline, has been hotly debated since 2007, when experts first raised questions about the long-term safety of the drug and its connection to cardiovascular problems and vision lapses. Since then, studies have reported that patients taking Chantix are at increased risk of depression and suicidal thoughts. Anecdotally, patients report wild dreams, inexplicable violent behavior and other psychological disturbances while on the drug.
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/chantix-dangers-government-attention-study/story?id=14868835
http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/07/05/chantix.smoking.suicide/index.html
http://drugsideeffects-info.com/2012/01/dangers-chantix-can-devastating/
habber 2/22/2013 3:35:52 PM Reportif everyone was to quit what would be the price of gas and alcohol let alone everything else??
Draken 2/22/2013 4:00:33 PM ReportHere's a thought to all the negativity......this is great!!! Help is being offered to those who want/need it. I'm glad i read this, i've been debating quiting smoking myself.
BlackHelix 2/22/2013 4:28:46 PM Report@Brianne
Yea, it's probably better to just keep smoking. No harmful side effects!
You know what also causes depression and suicidal thoughts? Quitting smoking.
But thanks for the laugh anyways....what a clown
BlackHelix 2/22/2013 4:35:26 PM ReportBTW if you actually read the article you would know that that there are no drugs involved in the study. It just covers the patch & gum.
Brianne 2/22/2013 4:57:26 PM ReportBlack helix....... ok clown !
What is nicotine ? hmmmmm
You got it.......... a drug !
Putting on my best clown face :)
RichyRich 2/22/2013 5:08:43 PM Report@Brianne, stop talking. You sound dumb. No one gives a rats a$$ if you don't want to participate. If it weren't for patches I would never have quit. It's programs like this that make a healthier city and I am proud to be a part of a town that supports health. Don't worry Brianne, they will still sell your cartons on the reserve for cheap so you won't be down and out.
RichyRich 2/22/2013 5:10:03 PM Reportgo copy and paste somewhere else.
Brianne 2/22/2013 5:14:18 PM ReportBupropin is an antidepressant. And varenicline is Chantix......... of which if you had read, both are offered as well.
So before calling anyone dumb........ do your research .
donsdeerden 2/22/2013 5:23:02 PM ReportBrianne get a life you cant even spell it right
Champix Duh got it now
Brianne 2/22/2013 5:28:52 PM Reportdons
omg ! lmao
Varenicline (trade name Chantix in the USA and Champix in Canada, Europe and other countries, marketed by Pfizer, usually in the form of varenicline tartrate)
sassafras 2/22/2013 6:02:05 PM ReportRemember, the side effects will only affect the user, but smoking hurts others, secondhand.
donsdeerden 2/22/2013 6:11:15 PM ReportBrianne:
kisses and hugs,sorry,never realized the diff.spellings
I smoke and want to quit,my doctor duz not like to prescribe that drug.
tried cold turkey and whoa,did not last long.will try again soon
seen_your 2/22/2013 6:48:05 PM ReportMost of the toxins in tobbacco come from pesticides/herbicides. If you smoke, do yourself a favor and grow your own. It's illegal sure, but the laws of man only mean anything if you get caught. F tha police anyways.
Brianne 2/22/2013 6:52:01 PM ReportThat's ok dons, I was having fun.........
Quitting smoking is a tough gig. I know lots who used everything on the market including champix/chantix.......they all smoke again.. They are dangerous drugs and should be fully researched before using. The anti depressant meds....try getting off those after you quit smoking. It's all a catch 22. I think the only way to quit, is just quit.
All I can say is, never quit quitting !
Kishido 2/22/2013 7:41:42 PM ReportFunny how the government allows the production and sale of cigarettes which is well known to cause cancer and death. yet it outlaws pot which does neither. Go figure. I guess there is more money to be pocketed by their buddies who produce the yellow weed.
Kishido 2/22/2013 7:42:24 PM ReportFunny how the government allows the production and sale of cigarettes which is well known to cause cancer and death. yet it outlaws pot which does neither. Go figure. I guess there is more money to be pocketed by their buddies who produce the yellow weed.
riverman 2/22/2013 8:47:28 PM Report@Brianne:
I do not believe that the medical professionals at Algoma Public Health would offer a smoking cessation program to a client without ensuring that the negative side effects of the program would outweigh the benefits. Public health agencies are here to try to improve the quality of life of the residents of their communities. If you choose to buy into some sort of a conspiracy theory and doubt their knowledge, their expertise and their methods that is your choice. To discourage others from taking advantage of their services is not doing anyone any favours. I agree everyone should do their research before starting any sort of new medication or health regime, but to dissuade people from even considering something like a smoking cessation program because a layperson like yourself thinks they know better is, in my opinion, not helpful.
frnlak 2/22/2013 9:30:50 PM ReportFive years not smoking for me last november. cold turkey. like any other drug addict, you have to want to quit.
riverman 2/22/2013 9:31:59 PM ReportOoops! What I meant to say was:
I do not believe that the medical professionals at Algoma Public Health would offer a smoking cessation program to a client without ensuring that the BENEFITS of the program would outweigh any negative side effects.
Apologies.
BlackHelix 2/22/2013 11:26:33 PM Report@Brianne
Chantix is a prescription drug. Again...because you completely missed it the first time around....this study is not giving anyone prescription drugs. This is for the nicorette patch and gum. What the hell are you talking about Chantix for? It has nothing to do with the study or the article.
Clown face? More like asshat...
@Riverman
No you're wrong...she read in on ABC.com so she totally knows what she's talking about.
BlackHelix 2/22/2013 11:28:30 PM Report"They are dangerous drugs and should be fully researched before using."
Hahaha she thinks she's doing research.
Brianne 2/22/2013 11:47:09 PM ReportHelix........... seriously
" provided nicotine replacement therapy including nicotine gum and patches, as well as bupropion and varenicline"
bupropion is an anti depressant
varenicline is chantix/champix
Can you not read ? It is part of the STOP program. It is NOT just patches and gum.
Are you that adamant to make me look the fool when you cannot read the entire article stating what all nrt's they are handing out ?
moem 2/23/2013 12:00:52 AM ReportBrianne
Keep researching, there are many studies that suggest therapeutic uses of nicotine. There are health benefits associated with the use of nicotine! ( including smoking) You're a great researcher so I'm sure you will find them lol
Why can't people mind their own business, non smokers bitch about smoking, the government controls and profits from them, and everyone reaps the rewards that cigarette tax money provides, yet smokers are forced to smoke in designated areas. ( outside) now there is a program to help people quit, and what happens.... People bitch about that too!!
BlackHelix 2/23/2013 1:58:02 AM Report@Brianne
wow....seriously. You really think that people are being "HANDED" as you say bupropion and varenicline? That sounds like something CAMH would do - start handing out anti-depressants like twizzlers. They are just covering the costs IF YOU HAVE A PRESCRIPTION. I would know this because I went through the program before. You still have to get your doctor to give you a prescription. So no, they are not providing anti-depressants. They're just paying for it as part of the program.
You don't need me to make you look like a fool..
and @moem, there are no health benefits associated with the use of nicotine. It is a poison. Sure, in small doses it's relatively harmless, but whatever source you read that from is wrong.
SPOCK-62 2/23/2013 9:48:55 AM Reportfrnlak nailed it! Nothing is going to make you quit. You have to "want" to quit. Good for you frnlak!!
IB-fine 2/23/2013 1:45:29 PM ReportActually it's not nicotine that's the problem in cigarettes that cause cancer and hurt others with second hand smoke...but the other 1400 chemicals the manufacturers put in the cigarettes to cause addiction.
Why does Health Canada not allow e-cigarettes WITH nicotine being sold here, but just the ones with "air". Providing electronic cigarettes with nicotine one can down the level of it even in one carton or buy a lower nicotine liquid as they go until they finally just get down to the 0 nicotine level.
It's not just the nicotine/chemical levels but the hand to mouth movements a person gets addicted to.
Electronic cigarettes are the way to go for sure. The "smoke" that comes out is actually just water vapour so no affect to others.
In the USA there are hundreds of e-cigs sites and a store across the river that makes their own liquids.
They actually have conventions in the US of "Vapour lovers" who still use the e-cigs but don't use cigarettes any more.
Algoma Health, Great program, would love to take part but have to be out of town at those dates.
In the meantime I have my e-cig for when my grandkids and others are in the car!
kamen 2/23/2013 2:07:24 PM ReportI am glad that this program is being offered for people who need it. Whether they are offering patches, gum, chantix/champix <---however the spelling, electronic cigarettes, whatever. If you are in the program I don't think they will force you to take these things from them. Maybe you just want to go there for support while quitting cold turkey, maybe just to have other people around who are actually going through the exact same thing you are going through is enough. I am happy to see that there are options for people who really want to quit.
BlackHelix 2/23/2013 3:36:37 PM Report@IB-fine
Vapecan 2013 is in Toronto in August if you're interested in going....
moem 2/23/2013 10:27:07 PM ReportSorry blackhelix I almost forgot you know everything!!! Do some more research, look into low doses and it's effects on alzheimer's disease, parkinson's disease and tourette's syndrome to name a few. It has also been shown to reverse or minimize development of KS in AIDS patients.... Thanks for your input.
Note: Comments that appear on the site are not the opinion of SooToday.com. Keep discussions civil and on topic. Refrain from obscenity and don't post anything that your grandmother would be ashamed to read. Those who do not abide by these guidelines will have their membership revoked without notice. If you see an abusive post, please click the link beside the post to report it.
