'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
NEW For their protection, immigrants critical of China and India call for speedy passage of Canada's foreign interference legislation
Canadian immigrants threatened by hostile regimes are urging parliamentarians to quickly pass the 'Countering Foreign Interference Act' so they can feel safe living in their adopted home.
OPINION No reunion between Prince Harry and the King signifies a setback for royal unity
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
How Drake and Kendrick Lamar's rap beef escalated within weeks
A long-simmering feud between hip-hop superstars Drake and Kendrick Lamar reached a boiling point in recent days as the pair traded increasingly personal insults on a succession of diss tracks. Here’s a quick overview of what’s behind the ongoing beef.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America announced after 114 years that it will change its name and will become Scouting America in an effort to emphasize inclusion as it works to move past the turmoil of bankruptcy and a flood of sexual abuse claims.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.