'Never too late to quit': Weedless Wednesday campaign hopes to help smokers butt-out for good
National Non-Smoking Week is underway in Canada, and Wednesday marked "Weedless Wednesday." The campaign asks smokers to butt-out for 24 hours to help quit the habit for good.
"Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death, so there are many harms," said Dr. Renelle Myers, a respirologist at B.C. Cancer and the medical director of the Smoking Cessation Program.
Those harms include increased risks of heart disease, stroke and of course, cancers.
"Including head and neck cancers, general urinary cancers, so the urinary track system, bladder cancer, pancreatic cancer, obviously lung cancer," said Myers.
Lung cancer is one of the major leading causes of cancer deaths in B.C.
"In British Columbia, almost 4,000 patients will be diagnosed with lung cancer [this year]," said Myers.
That said, B.C. does have the lowest smoking rate in Canada.
Across the province, 12 per cent of the population on the Lower Mainland smoke. In Northern B.C., 28 per cent of the population smokes.
In the middle, the Interior sits at 18 per cent while Vancouver Island has smoking rates of 14 per cent.
"It is never too late to quit," said Myers.
Though the experts agree, it’s an addiction that is extremely difficult to break.
"It is not easy and a lot of people get so frustrated and disappointed when they cannot quit smoking," said Menn Biagtan, vice president of Health Initiatives and Programs with the BC Lung Foundation.
The BC Lung Foundation says don’t give up trying to quit. Every attempt you make gets you that much closer to actually succeeding.
The first step to quitting is recognizing the symptoms of withdrawal and knowing they will pass.
"You feel like, 'I don’t want this feeling, I don’t want to do this anymore,'" said Biagtan.
Those symptoms include nicotine cravings, feeling irritated or depressed, trouble sleeping and food cravings.
"Simply because your sense of taste has come back," said Biagtan.
As for the act of quitting, experts say the best methods vary per individual.
"I think it depends on your determination and motivation to quit," said Biagtan.
Tips for quitting include making a plan and sticking to it. Seek out smoking cessations products like sprays or gums, speak to a doctor to see if prescription medications are right for you, and for some, acupuncture has been proven successful.
The website quitnow.ca has an app to help you through the process of quitting, allowing you to speak with a "stop smoking" coach.
"People should realize that they can quit by taking it one day at a time," said Biagtan.
It’s hoped that Weedless Wednesday will be a catalyst to butt-out for good.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Prince William says wife Kate is 'doing well'
Prince William said on Friday his wife Kate was 'doing well' in a rare public comment about the Princess of Wales as she undergoes preventative chemotherapy for cancer.
BREAKING Canadian Blood Services apologizes to LGBTQ2S+ community for discriminatory blood donation policy
Canadian Blood Services issued an apology on Friday to the LGBTQ2S+ community for what it now admits was a harmful and discriminatory blood donation policy that prevented sexually active men who have sex with men and some trans people from donating blood and plasma.
BREAKING Toronto mayor hints that WNBA team is coming to the city, marking the first franchise in Canada
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow says that she is hopeful an announcement could be made soon amid multiple reports that a WNBA team is coming to Toronto in 2026.
Magnitude 4.2 earthquake reported off Vancouver Island's west coast
A 4.2-magnitude earthquake was recorded west of Vancouver Island early Friday morning.
Ontario coroner to investigate death of man who suffered cardiac arrest while waiting in ER
A provincial coroner will be investigating the death of 68-year-old David Lippert, who suffered a cardiac arrest while waiting in a crowded emergency room in Kitchener, Ont.
'Irate male' assaulted Newfoundland officers with block of cheese, police say
Police in Newfoundland say patrol officers were assaulted Thursday by a "very irate male" wielding a block of cheese.
Average hourly wage in Canada now $34.95: StatCan
Average hourly wages among Canadian employees rose to $34.95 on a year-over-year basis in April, a 4.7 per cent increase, according to a Statistics Canada report released Friday morning.
This iconic Canadian song is turning 50
Andy Kim's 'Rock Me Gently' is marking a major milestone, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.