Alberta Health Services (AHS) officials have spent the past week promoting resources available to Albertans to quit smoking or vaping for good.
National Non-Smoking Week – which began Jan. 19 and ends Saturday, Jan. 25 -- is billed as a time to raise awareness of the benefits of quitting smoking and vaping and to help people get started on a quit journey that works for them.
Resources are available to help those living in Alberta to quit smoking and vaping for good, AHS says.
“With the right support, you can double or even triple your chance of staying vape- or smoke-free and improve your health. Within 20 minutes of putting out your last cigarette, your blood pressure and heart rate go down with less stress on your heart and blood vessels,” AHS said in a release marking National Non-Smoking Week.
To help people stop smoking and vaping, Alberta Health Services suggests Albertans:
• Call the AlbertaQuits helpline at 1-866-710-QUIT (7848) for free, confidential advice and support from a quit counsellor.
• Go to AlbertaQuits.ca for guidance and tools to build a quit plan.
• Text the word “ABQuits” to the number 123456 for free text messages to keep you motivated.
• Register for QuitCore, a group support program that teaches quit strategies and connects people who are trying to quit smoking and vaping. Call the AlbertaQuits helpline at 1-866-710-QUIT (7848) to find a QuitCore group in your local area or online.
• Ask their doctor or healthcare provider about medications that can boost your chances of staying quit. Some costs may be covered.
• Share your quit tips, hacks, and stories on social media with others using the hashtag #IamQuitting.
“It may take more than one try to quit for good, so it’s important to never give up,” AHS says. “Keep trying and use the resources that work for you.”
For more information on smoking, vaping, and your health, go to https://myhealth.alberta.ca/HealthTopics/Tobacco-Smoking-Vaping.
