As National Non-Smoking Week (January 20-26) comes to an end, VCH would like you to know about a number of great resources available for staff who are trying to break their addiction to tobacco and live a smoke-free life.
“Improving health through reducing tobacco use is a priority issue,” says Richard Taki, regional director of Health Protection at VCH. “Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of disease and death in Canada, killing 37,000 Canadians annually and costing the health care system $4.4 billion per year.”
VCH staff can learn how to address tobacco use with their patients and clients through our Clinical Smoking Cessation online course on CCRS (search smoking). You will learn how to ask about tobacco use, advise patients and clients to quit, assess willingness to begin treatment, offer assistance to quit and how to arrange follow-up with tobacco users. We also offer regular Tobacco Addiction Withdrawal Management workshops for staff.
“We would like to promote VCH as a healthy place to “live, work and play” and heal in clinical, residential and community settings,” says Dr. Meena Dawar, medical health officer for VCH.
Quitting takes practice, so practice often – it’s worth it.
- B.C.’s Smoking Cessation Program helps British Columbians stop smoking or using other tobacco products by assisting with the cost of smoking cessation aids. Over 100,000 British Columbians have used this program. Once a year, B.C. residents with a Medical Services Plan can receive a free, continuous 12-week supply of nicotine-replacement gum or patches. Call 8-1-1 for more information and support from QuitNow services.
- All VCH staff currently enrolled in the extended health benefits plan can access smoking cessation medications through the VCH Health Benefit Plan. For more information, check out the VCH Health Benefit Plan bulletin.
- If you have a group of staff who are interested in cutting down or quitting, VCH Tobacco Reduction will provide a trained facilitator for your group. VCH Tobacco Reduction also offers free smoking cessation groups. To register, call 604-675-3801. For more information, please contact smokefree@vch.ca.