Health and Community Services
September 30, 2014
Improving Health and Wellness for Families and Communities
New Smoking Cessation Program Begins October 1
A new Smoking Cessation Program is being made available to support clients eligible under the Access, Foundation, or 65Plus plans of the Newfoundland and Labrador Prescription Drug Program. Through an investment of $712,000, the program further strengthens the Provincial Government’s commitment to improving the health and wellness of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and will launch on October 1.
“Our government is committed to reducing smoking rates and promoting healthy living in our communities. While the number of people smoking has declined over the past decade, our province continues to have one of the highest smoking rates in the country. Tobacco use is a major risk factor for many chronic diseases including cancer and heart disease, and places significant costs on our health care system. This $712,000 investment in a new Smoking Cessation Program will support individuals in their efforts to quit smoking while complementing initiatives such as the Smokers’ Helpline.”
- The Honourable Steve Kent, Minister of Health and Community Services
The new Smoking Cessation Program is available to individuals 18 years and older who smoke and who are eligible under the Access, Foundation, or 65Plus plans of the Prescription Drug Program. It provides access to a 12-week treatment of smoking cessation medication once a year and clients will be encouraged to contact the Smokers’ Helpline for cessation counselling.
“The Newfoundland and Labrador Alliance for the Control of Tobacco is very encouraged by the Provincial Government’s new Smoking Cessation Program. Statistics show that two thirds of smokers want to quit smoking and this new program will certainly help many smokers as they attempt to break their addiction to tobacco.”
- Scott Antle, Chair of the Board, Alliance for the Control of Tobacco
The Provincial Government will subsidize the majority of the costs for one of two medications, Champix or Zyban. Clients will be required to contribute a maximum of $75 over 12 weeks to support their efforts to quit smoking. Individuals should speak to their family physician or nurse practitioner to determine if these products are right for them. For more information please visit: //www.health.gov.nl.ca/health/
“We are very pleased to see that the Provincial Government is acting to improve the lives of its citizens by making smoking cessation therapies available to low income smokers. I see patients in my clinic every day that want to quit smoking but are unable to afford the high cost of cessation therapies. Eliminating the financial barriers people face in accessing treatment for their addiction will not only lessen the economic burden of tobacco use on the health care system, it will also prevent smoking-related illness by helping people live healthier lives."
- Dr. Wendy Graham, President, Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association
This investment builds on broader tobacco control initiatives that support people to quit smoking such as taxation of tobacco products, smoke-free environment legislation, the investment in the Provincial Smokers’ Helpline, and the smoke-free policies in place at the regional health authorities, schools and many municipal recreation areas. Individuals who wish to quit smoking are encouraged to call the Smokers Helpline at 1-800-363-5864 or visit www.smokershelp.net. 
QUICK FACTS
- Through an investment of $712,000, a new Smoking Cessation Program is being made available to clients eligible under the Access, Foundation, or 65Plus plans of the Newfoundland and Labrador Prescription Drug Program.
- The program is available to eligible individuals 18 years and older who smoke. The program provides access to a 12-week treatment of smoking cessation medication once a year.
- Clients will also be encouraged to contact the Smokers’ Helpline for cessation counselling.
- The Provincial Government will subsidize the majority of the costs for one of two medications, Champix or Zyban. Clients will be required to contribute a maximum of $75 over 12 weeks.
- This investment builds on the broader tobacco control initiatives that support people to quit smoking such as taxation of tobacco products, smoke-free environment legislation, the investment in the Provincial Smokers’ Helpline, and the smoke-free policies in place at the regional health authorities, schools and many municipal recreation areas.
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Media contacts:
| Heather MacLean Director of Communications Department of Health and Community Services 709-729-1377, 697-4137 heathermaclean@gov.nl.ca |
Kevin Coady Executive Director Alliance for the Control of Tobacco 709-753-0079 kevincoady@actnf.com |
| Jonathan Carpenter Director, Communications & Public Affairs Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association 709-726-7424 (303) jcarpenter@nlma.nl.ca |
2014 09 30 1:40 p.m.