With fall just around the corner, the health unit that serves Northumberland County is encouraging local smokers to turn over a new leaf and quit smoking tobacco.
The Haliburton, Kawartha Pine Ridge health unit program offers no-charge nicotine patches to help smokers become tobacco-free.
The health unit is partnering with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health to bring the Smoking Treatment for Ontario Patients (S.T.O.P.) Program to Northumberland County this fall.
S.T.O.P. provides resources and five weeks of nicotine patches free-of-charge to smokers, with the goal of helping more people quit for good.
Public health nurse Karen Taylor says there are information sessions throughout the area for anyone who wants to participate.
She says they should call the health unit in their area.
The sessions are being held in Northumberland County on September 14, October 1, and November 26.
Health promoter Jennifer Valcamp says “Nicotine patches are very effective, but can be expensive for some people. The fact that patches are free through the S.T.O.P. Program is just another reason to call to see if you qualify for them.”
To find out more about S.T.O.P and to see if they qualify for the program, local residents can call the Health Unit toll-free at 1-866-888-4577.
