Sooner Or Later Everybody Quits
Written by admin, January 19, 2015
January 19, 2015 – Doing So Could Win You a Car, Cash or Other Prizes
This National Non-Smoking Week Peterborough Public Health is encouraging tobacco users in our region to make 2015 their healthiest year yet and quit smoking or tobacco use for the chance to win a new car or cash prizes.
Currently there are two opportunities for quitters to win in Ontario. One of them is Canadian Cancer Society’s Driven to Quit Challenge. In this challenge, if participants stay smoke-free for the month of March, they will be eligible to win a choice between three 2015 vehicles, a Nissan Sentra, or a Toyota Corolla or a Scion tC or one of seven $1,000 cash prizes. Residents of Ontario aged 19 and older who have used tobacco at least once weekly for at least 10 months in 2014, and who have used tobacco at least 100 times in their life can enter.
Another one is Leave the Pack Behind’s annual wouldurather… contest designed specifically for young adults. Two grand prizes of $2,500 will be awarded to randomly-selected contestants who have successfully quit smoking. Other prizes such as cash, tuition waivers, and gift cards to community and campus retailers can be won by contestants who choose to reduce their smoking by half, refrain from smoking when drinking alcohol, or stay smoke-free. This contest is open to Ontario young adults between the ages of 18-29 and registered students at publically-funded Ontario universities and colleges.
Tobacco remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease in Ontario, killing 13,000 people annually or 36 people a day. On an average, it can take 30 times to quit successfully. However, accessing quit smoking services and supports can help increase a smoker’s chance of becoming tobacco-free.
“For many smokers the cost of nicotine replacement products can be a barrier to quitting,” said Dr. Rosana Salvaterra, Medical Officer of Health. The Peterborough Public Health is partnering with the STOP (Smoking Treatment for Ontario Patients) Program to offer eligible participants in Peterborough five weeks of cost-free nicotine replacement therapy and smoking cessation information to help them in their quit attempt.
For more information on local quit smoking supports and services available, please contact Peterborough Public Health at 705-743-1000. Details regarding Driven to Quit Challenge can be accessed at www.DrivenToQuit.ca and regarding the wouldurather… contest can be found at www.wouldurather.ca.
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For further information, please contact:
Mary Pat Fasken
Public Health Nurse
705-743-1000, ext. 217