October 25, 2010 - Smoking Treatment for Ontario Patients (STOP) On-the-Road Tour concludes its journey with four cessation workshops this past weekend and 194 Thunder Bay smokers on their way to quitting. This successful tour, presented by Thunder Bay District Health Unit (TBDHU), Smokers’ Helpline and the NorWest Community Health Centre, offered eligible participants stop-smoking advice and five weeks of free nicotine replacement aids. All four of the Thunder Bay workshops were filled to capacity. Earlier last week, workshops were held by Northwestern Health Unit in Kenora, Dryden and Fort Frances with a total of 87 participants.

"We are thrilled that so many people in our community signed up for this study. It shows that many smokers do want to quit and some just need that little extra support to make it happen," says Amber White, public health nurse at the Thunder Bay District Health Unit. "By providing smokers with free nicotine replacement therapy, we remove another barrier to their quitting".

Participants in the 3-hour STOP Study workshops were provided with information on how to use nicotine replacement therapy, offered assistance in preparing a personal quit plan and allotted five weeks of free nicotine replacement therapy aids including gum, patches, lozenges or inhalers. Participants agreed to four follow-up telephone calls and their information will be added to the 62,000 other STOP participants during the past four years.

At least 25% of participants in previous STOP On-the-Road workshops in Ontario have successfully quit smoking and stayed off tobacco for six months as a direct result of the nicotine replacement therapy supplied. This compares with average unaided quit rates of 7% for Ontarians under the age of 45 and 3% for those over 45 years of age.

Smokers who missed this opportunity but are looking to quit should contact the Smokers’ Helpline at 1-877-513-5333 or the Thunder Bay District Health Unit at 625-5982.

The STOP Study is conducted by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in local partnership with the Thunder Bay District Health Unit, NorWest Community Health Centre and the Smokers’ Helpline. STOP Study is funded by Smoke Free Ontario; part of the Ministry of Health Promotion and Sport.

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