Toward A Smoke-Free Ontario

Since 2005 more than 1.37 million smokers have been helped by government supported initiatives to quit smoking, including:

·        Driven to Quit Challenge -- invites Ontario tobacco users to break their addiction for the chance to win a new car

·        Leave the Pack Behind -- tobacco control initiative for students on post-secondary campuses

·        Smokers' Helpline and Smokers' Helpline Online -- support, advice and information on how to quit

·        STOP (Smoking Treatment for Ontario Patients) -- provides free smoking cessation medication and counselling support

·        Aboriginal Tobacco Program - works to prevent and reduce commercial tobacco use

·        Hiring full-time Youth Engagement Coordinators in each of the province's Public Health Units to be resources for youth tobacco control activities in their communities

The Province has also invested in the University of Ottawa Heart Institute's Hospital-Based Smoking Cessation Program, the Ottawa Model for Smoking Cessation. This model systematically identifies and treats smokers admitted to hospital. The Institute has developed a network of 47 hospital-based programs province-wide, including 13 out-patient cessation programs.

Renewed Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy

In 2011, Ontario confirmed its commitment to tobacco control efforts by renewing The Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy. The priority for the new five year plan includes reducing demand for tobacco by:

·       Building a cessation system which improves access and availability of medications, counselling and support services;

·       Decreasing the number of young people who take up smoking; and,

·       Maintaining efforts to protect Ontarians from second-hand smoke.

Over the past year 135,000 people have accessed enhanced smoking cessation services in Ontario.  These expanded services include:

·        Family Health Teams -- now providing Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) and cessation counselling to their patients

·        Community pharmacists -- now providing smoking cessation services to Ontario Drug Benefit recipients

·        Smoking cessation drugs -- Champix and Zyban are now available on the Ontario Drug Benefit Formulary