Take Action to Quit Smoking is Heart Niagara's comprehensive smoke cessation and health promotion program for workplaces. The project is designed to assist employees and their families to achieve improved health outcomes with support from the workplace. Take Action utilizes evidence based tobacco control and health promotion strategies to successfully reduce tobacco use and increase healthier smoke free lifestyles. Employer involvement will assist Take Action to support employees in their quit attempts as well as realize a decrease in smoking in the workplace, increase productivity, reduce employer costs and improve employee job satisfaction. Although smoking rates have declined over the past generation, the reality is that 20.8% of Niagara Region residents continue to smoke.
Includes:
Workplace marketing campaigns (social media, print, e-mail)Counselling services provided by a nurse practitionerUp to five weeks of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT)30 minute lunch and learn workshops focused on illness prevention and health improvement strategiesWorkplace activity challenges
Investment:
$426 per person for a minimum of 8 participants over 5 weeks. To book this program, call 905-358-5552 or email Heart Niagara. A decrease in smoking in the workplace can:
Increase productivity
Reduce employer costs
Improve employee job satisfaction
NOTE: The Take Action To Quit Smoking program is free to the public. The investment costs above are covered in full by Heart Niagara.
It's important to know the facts about smoking
MYTH. It is not nicotine, but the thousands of other chemicals in cigarette smoke that are responsible for most tobacco-caused diseases.
FACT. Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is safe and effective for smokers looking to quit.
MYTH. Cigarettes are far more addictive than nicotine gum or the patch because nicotine reaches the brain much faster through inhaling it.
FACT. It is far more dangerous for patients with heart disease to continue to smoke than to use NRT.
MYTH. Having a cigarette while using the patch does not increase the smoker’s risk for a heart attack, however, it is not advisable to smoke while on the patch.
FACT. Smokers should be in control of how they use the nicotine patch or gum and should vary the dose according to their own needs. Like smoking, it takes time to learn how best to use the nicotine patch or gum to benefit from it.
MYTH. The nicotine patch, gum or inhaler may be used at the same time as smoking medication. In fact, some studies show improved effectiveness when used in combination.
