Kids can get help butting out with free meds, counselling
WATERLOO REGION — Youth trying to quit smoking can now get free medication and pharmacist counselling paid for by the province.
The local branch of the Canadian Cancer Society applauded the new option for young people looking to kick the habit before it becomes deeply entrenched.
“The idea is we want to get to those people as young as possible,” said Karen Griffiths, manager of the society’s Waterloo Wellington community office.
Studies show youth who smoke become regular smokers by 18, according to a news release on the provincial initiative Wednesday.
This is National Non-Smoking Week, an annual celebration intended to raise awareness about the benefits of a smoke-free environment and to encourage smokers to quit.
The services and medication are through “OHIP+” — a new benefit launched on Jan. 1. It provides prescription medication coverage at no cost for children and youth who are 24 and under.
Youth looking to butt out can get support services and counselling from a pharmacist for up to one year. Prescription medication such as Champix and Zyban are available for those aged 18 to 24, if they are participating in smoking-cessation counselling.
This fits with the Cancer Society’s mission.
“Obviously our goal is to reduce smoking prevalence,” Griffiths said. “We’re looking at Ontario to be bold, so we can be the healthiest province.”
The society runs the smokers’ helpline (1-877-513-5333, smokershelpline.ca) to offer support to those trying to quit.
“They can call, text or they can go online,” Griffiths said. “Quitting is not easy, but we’re there to help people.”
The University of Waterloo’s David Hammond, a professor in the School of Public Health and Health Systems, said funding smoking cessation help for youth was overdue.
While there has been much success in preventing youth from starting smoking, efforts to support quitting among young smokers has lagged behind.
“It was a long time coming,” Hammond said.
He said it’s an important step in the right direction and removes the barriers of cost, which is a big issue for those on a low income or youth. The cost to government is low, compared to the gains of reducing the impact of disease linked with smoking.
Hammond said it also represents a shift in thinking about stop-smoking medications and young people.
Initially, over-the-counter medications such as the nicotine patch and gum were not recommended for youth.
But now there is widespread acceptance that the risks of these medications are low, compared to the huge health benefits of quitting smoking.
“Smoking is so much more harmful than any other form of nicotine delivery,” Hammond said.
This sends a good message that people need to stop smoking, and as soon as possible.
“The earlier you stop, the more likely your risk is to return to zero,” he said.
Ontario’s smoking rate fell to 16 per cent in 2016, the third-lowest in Canada.
Despite significant progress in reducing the use of tobacco products, nearly 13,000 people in Ontario die each year as a result of smoking.