Free Nicotine Replacement Therapy to Help Young Adult Smokers Quit

A new program is giving young adults between the ages of 18 and 29 some extra incentive to quit smoking this fall. “Leave the pack behind” is a program offering a free 8-week supply of nicotine gum (while supplies last).

Those interested can apply online at www.leavethepackbehind.org, which will help determine the appropriate treatment course and dosage to match the user’s level of tobacco use.

To be eligible for the nicotine gum, young adults must meet the following criteria:
Be a resident of Ontario and between 18 and 29 years of age
Not pregnant or breastfeeding
Not diagnosed with any medical condition listed on the product monograph
Smoked cigarettes daily or almost daily for the past 3 months.

“Labour Day marks the official end of summer and it falls on the first of September! What better day to quit smoking and make it a memorable holiday,” says Dominique Bruce, Public Health Promoter. “We encourage young adults to sign-up for this free help, leave the pack behind, and make this new season the one that they quit smoking”

Young adult smokers who go online to order nicotine gum will have to complete an online baseline survey and two subsequent surveys eight weeks and six months after entering the study.

Along with the nicotine gum, participants also receive other resources to help them in their quit attempt.

While young adults in Ontario have the highest smoking rate among all age groups at 18% (based on a 2012 Health Canada study), recent data shows 97% of the mortality due to smoking can be eliminated if the user quits before the age of 30.
For more information and support:

Call Health Line at 519-271-7600 ext 267 or toll-free at 1-877-271-7348 ext 267

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