Stop smoking in 2017

For the New Year, the Region of Durham’s health department wants you to butt out.

With National Non-Smoking Week running from Jan. 15 to 21, the health department is reminding residents that it is never too late to quit smoking once and for all.

According to a 2015 survey by the regional health department, 14 per cent of Durham residents are smokers, with 70 per cent of them saying they are considering quitting or planning to quit within six months.

One thing that concerns Shelley Simic, a public health nurse, is the number of young people that are smoking.

“Smoking rates among young adults are of particular concern, as this rate is considerably higher than the average in Durham Region,” Simic states in a news release, pointing to the regional survey which found 22 per cent of those aged 18 through 24 are smokers.

“Quitting smoking is challenging, but we want people to know that they have options and we can help.”

Across Canada, more than 37,000 people die every year as a result of smoking, with 13,000 of those occurring in Ontario.

“Tobacco use is one of the leading causes of preventable death and disease in Ontario and quitting smoking is one of the best steps a person can take to improve their health,” states Dr. Robert Kyle, Durham Region’s medical officer of health, in the same news release.

“We encourage smokers to talk to their healthcare provider about strategies that can help them quit smoking.”

For more information on quitting smoking, tobacco-use prevention, protection from exposure to second-hand smoke and other important resources, please call the Durham Health Connection Line at (905) 666-6241 or visit durham.ca/tobacco.