Islanders looking to quit smoking now have access to additional supports, free of charge, through a new self-referral program.
All P.E.I. residents who smoke or use other tobacco products – and are ready to quit – are eligible to participate.
The Smoking Cessation Program covers the cost of medications and nicotine replacement therapy products. It will be delivered through primary care networks across the province.
Health Minister James Aylward said with tobacco use as the No. 1 preventable cause of illness and death on Prince Edward Island, it’s important to ensure Islanders have the supports in place to help them quit smoking.
“We want to make accessing the smoking cessation program as easy as possible. By offering these supports through our primary care networks across the province we are ensuring that Islanders can access the services no matter where they live.”
The program covers one full, 12-week course of treatment, once per year, for one of the following: gum; lozenges; inhalers or nicotine patches; prescription quit smoking medication.
A provincial tobacco control co-ordinator has recently been hired to oversee administration, monitoring and evaluation of the program in the Department of Health and Wellness.
The program co-ordinator will be working with partners on tobacco prevention and harm reduction initiatives to decrease rates of smoking in the province and ensure supports are available to those who want to quit smoking.
For more information, including a list of locations to access the program, visit healthpei.ca/quitsmoking.
