Do you smoke or chew commercial tobacco products?
How does six months of free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), including patches, gum, inhalers, or lozenges, sound? Here is your chance, before the year ends, to access your stock of NRT and combine it with next year’s supply for optimal success.
Nicotine cravings: Not all the same
When you crave tobacco, what you’re really craving is nicotine, an addictive chemical found in commercial tobacco products. NRT provides your body with clean nicotine that fulfils those cravings, without the exposure to hazardous chemicals found in commercial tobacco products.
Having the right tools, supports, and coping mechanisms in place can help improve your overall chances of living tobacco-free.
Six ways you can improve your chances of living tobacco-free:
- Have a plan in place. Remember: this is a lifestyle change! Plan for triggers and risky situations to help make sure you stay tobacco-free.
- Detox tobacco. Get rid of your tobacco product as well as ashtrays both in the house and vehicle.
- Have open dialogue with friends, family and coworkers. This can keep you on track.
- Know your cues. If you need to hold something in the absence of a cigarette, substitute it with a stick of celery, carrot, or pen.
- Get counselling. Evidence shows that having a counselor or peer support group is effective when it comes to quitting.
- Use tobacco cessation services in combination with nicotine replacement therapy and medication. This combo makes you three to four times more likely to quit.
If you want to quit or decrease your tobacco use, talk to your primary care provider (such as a doctor or nurse practitioner).
You can also access the following tobacco cessation resources below:
- QuitNow offers free information, support, and counseling by trained professionals by phone, text, or email.
- BC Smoking Cessation Program: Everyone in BC can access 12 weeks of free nicotine replacement therapy (gum, patch, inhaler and lozenges) per calendar year through their local pharmacy. Women who are pregnant or lactating are advised to consult with their doctor or pharmacist.
- First Nations Health Authority benefits program offers supplementary coverage for nicotine replacement therapy.
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