Take the No Smoke November Challenge and commit to a smoke-free 30 days with support from NICORETTE®.
We’ve come a long way since the 1960s, when roughly 50 percent of Canadians smoked — and yet smoking remains the leading preventable cause of illness and death in Canada.i
“The latest Canadian Community Health Survey shows that in 2023, 11.4 per cent of Canadians aged 18 and over identified as current smokers,” says Dr. Leslie Phillips, a pharmacist and professor at Memorial University in St. John’s, N.L.
But while smoking rates continue to decline, Dr. Phillips notes that this drop is largely due to fewer young people taking up smoking, rather than current smokers quitting. “We haven’t made much of a dent in the number of people still smoking,” she says. “Quit rates have not really changed.”
The perfect time to take action
This is concerning because of how devastating smoking is for one’s health. “Smoking causes about 48,000 deaths each year in Canada, and approximately one million Canadians live with chronic illnesses caused by smoking — cancers, vascular diseases, lung diseases like COPD, and more,” says Dr. Phillips. “One in two smokers will die prematurely due to smoking.”
With 79 per cent of smokers expressing a strong desire to quit,ii November — Lung Month — is the perfect time to take action. The No Smoke November Challenge by NICORETTE® offers a timely opportunity for smokers to commit to 30 smoke-free days.
We know that living smoke-free is the best thing you can do to reduce your risk of cancer,
“We know that living smoke-free is the best thing you can do to reduce your risk of cancer,” says Nancy Wirtz, Manager of Cancer Prevention at the Canadian Cancer Society. From better lung health to increased circulation, boosted stamina, and a brighter smile, not to mention the long-term health benefits and the cost savings, the reasons to quit are plentiful.
Taking essential steps to success
With the No Smoke November Challenge, NICORETTE® encourages smokers to write down their personal “why” for quitting, identify triggers, and working with a doctor or pharmacist to find a treatment that will work for them. “Picking the right quit medication is also a must,” says Dr. Phillips. “Cold turkey doesn’t work for most people.” Nicotine replacement therapy like the NICODERM® patch can help reduce withdrawal symptoms and NICORETTE® short-acting products (Gum, Lozenge, Inhaler, and Quick Mist® Mouth Spray) can help relieve cravings.
Picking the right quit medication is also a must. Cold turkey doesn’t work for most people.
Tracking and rewarding progress is also recommended. Marking each cigarette-free day and incentivizing at each milestone can help to create powerful change.
Receiving ongoing counselling from an expert can help with a successful quit as well. “Smokers’ Helpline provides free, confidential, non-judgmental, and personalized cessation support and counselling,” says Wirtz. The helpline offers services via the phone in 100 different languages at 1-877-513-5333 as well as online at SmokersHelpline.ca or by texting IQUIT to 123456.
Research shows that a small quit journey can greatly increase the chances of long-term success — those who quit for one week are nine times more likely to quit for good.iii “The more times you try to quit, the more likely it is that you’ll stay quit for good,” says Dr. Phillips. There’s no better time to get started than today.
Learn more at nicorette.ca/nosmokenovember.
NICODERM® and NICORETTE® products are only to be used by adults who are trying to quit smoking.
To be sure this product is right for you, always read and follow the label.
