Health unit can help you kick the habit

By Cecilia Nasmith

The Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit is urging area residents who need help to stop smoking to sign up for the STOP on the Net program (stoponthenet.ca).

This is where eligible smokers can get eight weeks of free nicotine patches and gum or lozenges (while supplies last), mailed directly to their homes.

Program participants will be asked to take part in follow-up surveys with researchers to see how they are doing in their kick-the-habit efforts. Joining STOP on the Net also provides additional quit-smoking resource and self-help supports.

Public Health Nurse Karen Taylor said that smoking is very addictive, and tough to quit at the best of times.

“With the stress from the past two years of the pandemic, it has made going smoke-free even more challenging,” Taylor said in the press release.

“Nicotine patches and gum/lozenges can greatly improve the chances of quitting smoking, but some people may not be able to afford them. With STOP on the Net, these supplies are provided free of charge, and this has helped many, many people successfully quit their tobacco addiction.”

To date, 600 HKPR residents have enrolled in STOP on the Net.

Visiting www.stoponthenet.ca is the only way to sign up. Those who do not have access to the internet are encouraged to use a friend’s device or a public computer at their local library. For additional assistance, call the Health Unit at 1-866-888-4577, ext. 2240.

“The road to smoke-free living is not easy but, once you start down it, you reap the physical and health rewards almost immediately,” Taylor noted.