It's one of the most popular New Year's resolutions. If you've vowed to butt out this year, you're not alone.
The World Health Organization has just pegged lung cancer as one of the Top 10 global killers.
Dr. Dhali Dhaliwal, the C.E.O. of CancerCare Manitoba, says that if scientists had one drug that could prevents as many cancer cases as does the choice to eliminate smoking, "every one of us would be clamoring for that drug to be available."
CancerCare Manitoba has launched the "Be Tobacco Free" campaign. It's aimed at getting smokers to kick the habit and stop others from picking it up.
It's an important message considering one in two life-long smokers will die early as a direct result of smoking.
Some studies to consider for your motivation:
- Many studies show you can reap the benefits of quitting 20 minutes after you put out your last cigarette.
- And after 15 years of being a non-smoker, you cut the health risks associated with smoking by nearly 90 per cent.
- Your risk of dying compared to a non-smoker is 15-fold higher but at any stage when you quit your risk starts going down very rapidly
Websites and phone numbers for help with your plan:
- Manitoba Healthy Living: Smoking
- The Manitoba Provincial Tobacco Control Strategy
- More help from the Manitoba government: Obtain a copy of our brochure Cutting Through the Smoke by calling 1-866-MANITOBA (1-866-626-4862).
- Call the Smokers Help Line at 1-877-513-5333.
- Contact the Manitoba Lung Association at (204) 774-5501 to find out more about Teen Cessation Programs in Manitoba.
- Canadian Council for Tobacco Control
- Health Canada Tobacco Information
- Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada
- BC Ministry of Health Tobacco Facts
- Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids
- Health Canada Quit4Life
- Tips 4 Youth
- Call (204) 788-6785 or 788-6357 to report retailers or others supplying tobacco to minors or selling single cigarettes.
- To find out about community prevention initiatives, contact MANTRA at (204) 784-7030.
