Take Action To Quit Smoking

Take Action to Quit Smoking is Heart Niagara’s comprehensive smoking cessation and health promotion program for workplaces. The program is designed to help employees and their families 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 encourage healthier, smoke-free lifestyles. Employer involvement helps support employees in their quit attempts while also contributing to decreased smoking in the workplace, increased productivity, reduced employer costs, and improved employee job satisfaction.

Note: The Take Action to Quit Smoking program is free to the public. The investment costs listed above are fully covered by Heart Niagara.

Although smoking rates have declined over the past generation, 20.8% of Niagara Region residents continue to smoke.

Increase productivity
Reduce employer costs
Improve employee job satisfaction

Includes:

A decrease in smoking in the workplace can:

Workplace marketing campaigns (social media, print, and email)
Counselling services provided by a nurse practitioner
Up to five weeks of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT)
30-minute lunch-and-learn workshops focused on illness prevention and health improvement strategies
Workplace activity challenges

To book this program, call 905-358-5552 or email Heart Niagara.

Investment:
$426 per person for a minimum of 8 participants over 5 weeks.

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Fact or Myth

It's important to know the facts about smoking

Nicotine is the harmful substance in cigarettes.

MYTH. It is not nicotine, but the thousands of other chemicals in cigarette smoke that are responsible for most tobacco-caused diseases.

Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is safe for smokers.

FACT. Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is safe and effective for smokers looking to quit.

Addiction to nicotine is the same if it comes from nicotine gum, the patch, or cigarettes.

MYTH. Cigarettes are far more addictive than nicotine gum or the patch because nicotine reaches the brain much faster through inhaling it.

Patients with heart disease can use the nicotine patch or gum.

FACT. It is far more dangerous for patients with heart disease to continue to smoke than to use NRT.

Smoking while on the patch increases the risk of a heart attack.

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.

The nicotine patch, gum or inhaler doesn't need to only be taken in recommended doses.

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.

The nicotine patch, gum, or inhaler should not be used at the same time as smoking medication.

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.