National Non-Smoking Week
This National Non-Smoking week The City of Hamilton Public Health Services is encouraging tobacco users in our region to make 2015 their healthiest year yet and quit smoking or tobacco use for the chance to win a new car or cash prizes.
Currently there are two opportunities for quitters to win in Ontario. One of them is Canadian Cancer Society’s Driven to Quit Challenge. In this challenge, if participants stay smoke-free for the month of March, they will be eligible to win a choice between three 2015 vehicles, a Nissan Sentra, or a Toyota Corolla or a Scion tC or one of seven $1,000 cash prizes. Residents of Ontario aged 19 and older who have used tobacco at least once weekly for at least 10 months in 2014, and who have used tobacco at least 100 times in their life can enter.
Another one is Leave the Pack Behind’s annual wouldurather… contest designed specifically for young adults. Two grand prizes of $2,500 will be awarded to randomly-selected contestants who have successfully quit smoking. Other prizes such as cash, tuition waivers, and gift cards to community and campus retailers can be won by contestants who choose to reduce their smoking by half, refrain from smoking when drinking alcohol, or stay smoke-free. This contest is open to Ontario young adults between the ages of 18-29 and registered students at publically-funded Ontario universities and colleges.
“This year, both campaigns are wonderful opportunities to quit smoking or tobacco use, offering Ontarians more support than ever before,” says Dr. Ninh Tran, Associate Medical Officer of Health. “wouldurather… provides all contestants with motivational emails and support from a buddy and Driven to Quit offers an online quit centre and access to Canadian Cancer Society’s Smokers’ Helpline.”
Tobacco remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease in Ontario, killing 13,000 people annually or 36 people a day. On an average, it can take 30 times to quit successfully. However, accessing quit smoking services and supports can help increase a smoker’s chance of becoming tobacco-free.
Registration for Leave The Pack Behind’s wouldurather… contest is open until January 25, 2015 and the Canadian Cancer Society’s Driven to Quit challenge is open for registration until February 28, 2015.
For more information on local quit smoking supports and services available, please contact the Tobacco Hotline at 905-540-5566 (press #1). Details regarding Driven to Quit Challenge can be accessed at www.DrivenToQuit.ca and regarding the wouldurather… contest can be found at www.wouldurather.ca.
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January 18-24, 2015 is National Non-Smoking Week. The purpose of this week is to raise awareness, prevent individuals from starting to smoke, help smokers quit and promote smoke-free environments. Established in 1977 by the Canadian Council for Tobacco Control, National Non-Smoking Week has been observed annually for more than 30 years. It is one of the longest running and most important events in Canada's ongoing public health education efforts.