The third week of January is National Non-Smoking Week.
Running from Jan. 19-25, the week is a time to raise awareness about the benefits of quitting smoking and vaping.
To help people get started on their non-smoking journey, Alberta Health Services (AHS) has released a list of resources available to help people kick the habit for good.
"With the right support, you can double or even triple your chance of staying vape or smoke-free, and improve your health," states a release. "Within 20 minutes of putting out your last cigarette, your blood pressure and heart rate go down with less stress on your heart and blood vessels."
AHS has several programs and services to help smokers quit and notes that it may take more than one try to quit for good.
"It’s important to never give up," continues the release.
Resources available to Alberta smokers are:
- Call the AlbertaQuits helpline at 1-866-710-QUIT (7848) for free, confidential advice and support from a quit counsellor.
- Go to AlbertaQuits.ca for guidance and tools to build a quit plan.
- Text the word “ABQuits” to the number 123456 for free text messages to keep you motivated.
- Register for QuitCore, a group support program that teaches quit strategies and connects people who are trying to quit smoking and vaping. Call the AlbertaQuits helpline at 1-866-710-QUIT (7848) to find a QuitCore group in your local area or online.
- Ask your doctor or healthcare provider about medications that can boost your chances of staying quit. Some costs may be covered.
- Share your quit tips, hacks, and stories on social media with others using the hashtag #IamQuitting.
For more information and support about quitting smoking and vaping, visit AlbertaQuits.ca.
