Tobacco users in the Drumheller and Hanna areas are being offered a new program to help achieve the goal of quitting smoking or chewing tobacco.
Alberta Health Services (AHS) is presenting QuitCore, a free six week group program to help residents quit all forms of tobacco use.
“QuitCore is a group cessation support for people who want to quit tobacco, not just smoking,” said Martin McSween, an addictions counsellor with AHS. “Often people who chew tobacco feel there isn’t a problem. Single tins are equivalent to 30 to 40 cigarettes worth of nicotine.”
The program gives organized presentations in six sessions, dealing with a variety of aspects to smoking and chewing tobacco. Participants must attend all six sessions, beginning to end to get the full effect of the program, as each session builds upon the one previous.
One of the most important aspects of the program is the group support involved.
“One of the main things is it’s a group. People in a group are automatic supports for each other, because they’re coming for the same reason. Support is not just from the sessions. Relationships form and people continue their support for one another on an ongoing basis,” said McSween.
“If you’re quitting by yourself, cold turkey, it’s usually less than 5 per cent who are successful. The minute you add one person to help you, it can jump by 30 per cent. It keeps climbing the more people you add. When you add a support vehicle like this, it increases the chances even more.”
An added benefit to the QuitCore program is that it is being offered locally in Drumheller and Hanna, unlike other courses which may require a drive to larger urban centres.
“It’s local, you don’t have to go elsewhere to do it. This is a local, knowledgeable person who you can talk to after the sessions,” said McSween.
To sign up for either the Drumheller or Hanna sessions, contact 1-866-710-7848 or visit www.albertaquits.ca. The Drumheller addictions office can be reached at 403-823-1660 for more information.
The Hanna sessions begin tonight and run until November 14. The Drumheller program starts on October 3 and lasts for six consecutive Wednesdays. Courses will be held in each town’s respective Provincial Buildings.
“It’s a great program. Drumheller in particular has had some good successes. Definitely the support, people, and knowledge base,” said McSween. “There is a lot of information shared that people may not have known about tobacco use and its effects.”
