Helping More Ontarians Quit Smoking
January 19, 2011
McGuinty Government Takes Steps To Reduce Costs Of Tobacco-Related Disease
Ontario is taking action to address the rising costs of tobacco-related disease on the province’s health care system by expanding services that help smokers quit.
Beginning in Spring 2011, participating Family Health Teams will provide access to over-the-counter nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) such as nicotine patches and gum, combined with counselling, at no cost to the smoker. These services are also already available in many Public Health Units, Community Health Centres, Aboriginal Health Access Centres, pharmacies and hospitals.
Expanding these services to Family Health Teams will give 20,000 more Ontarians the tools to quit smoking over the next two years, and help the province reduce the $1.93 billion in tobacco-related health care costs.
Family Health Teams will work in partnership with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health to:
- Identify, advise and assist current smokers within Family Health Teams
- Offer NRT treatment and expert smoking cessation counselling
- Follow-up with participants to prevent relapses
- Offer additional counselling and follow-up support through the Smokers’ Helpline and online services
QUICK FACTS
- Studies have shown that combining nicotine replacement therapy with counselling doubles the chance of successfully quitting.
- Each year, tobacco claims 13,000 lives in Ontario – equivalent to 36 lives every day.
- Tobacco-related disease costs Ontario’s health care system $1.93 billion in direct health care costs and $5.8 billion in productivity losses each year.
Family Health Teams provide care to approximately 2.6 million Ontarians.
