You can stop smoking. We can help.
Below is a list of programs and resources to help you start to stop. Some people have success with alternative therapies such as acupuncture, hypnosis and laser therapy. Please check your local yellow pages for these services.
Call 8-1-1 and ask for QuitNow or visit them online for support, guidance, and resources 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The BC Smoking Cessation Program offers free nicotine replacement therapy products (nicotine gum and patches) to British Columbians as well as smoking cessation prescription drugs as benefits under PharmaCare.
Central Island Smoking Intervention Clinic
This private program in Nanaimo provides counseling and treatments for smoking cessation. Individual or group counseling is available from a smoking cessation physician specialist. Nanaimo location. For more information, call 250.714.9164
Aboriginal Communities
The Honour Your Health Challenge encourages Aboriginal communities to quit or reduce tobacco use and promote smoke-free environments. For more information, contact Denise Lecoy at dancingspirit@shaw.ca and visit www.honouringourhealth.ca/
CFB Esquimalt
CFB Esquimalt provides help for military members seeking medication aide in quitting smoking. DND employees may also be eligible for medication coverage; see your health plan. This program examines reasons for smoking, patterns of smoking behavior, triggers and helpful strategies to increase your success. For more information, visit Butt Out or call 250.363.5621
Health Professionals
Health care providers have an important role to play in helping clients and patients who smoke to quit. Every smoker has the right to be offered assistance to quit smoking.
Evidence shows that just talking to a person about tobacco use can increase the likelihood that they will quit smoking by 30 percent.
The BC Cancer Agency has a Clinical Tobacco Intervention Recognition Program that offers training for health professionals in evidence-based clinical tobacco intervention and supports implementation through materials and clinical tools. Online courses are available in a variety of disciplines. For more information on the program, please visit the website: http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/HPI/CE/CTIRP/default.htm
VIHA Health Professionals will find resources on the staff intranet (password required) at: https://intranet.viha.ca/departments/stop_smoking/Pages/default.aspx
People Living with Mental Illness
The Smoking Reduction and Cessation Group is designed to address the unique needs of mental health clients who want to learn about tobacco addiction and to cut down or quit smoking. Referrals are accepted from physicians, psychiatrists, case managers, or therapists at the Day Hospital, Eric Martin Pavilion, Victoria, BC. For more information, call 250.370.8126
University Students
Quitters Unite is an online support program for university students managed by the Heart & Stroke Foundation. It is based on an award-winning advertising campaign developed by BCIT students to encourage friends and classmates to live smoke-free.
VIHA Employees
Visit our VIHA employees web page for additional resources available to staff.
Women and Girls
The Ministry of Health publishes resources to help girls and women quit smoking. To order copies, check the Resource List (PDF) and call 250.360.1450