This week is National Non-smoking Week and Drumheller is kicking off the event with a hockey tradition.
The Alberta Health Services addictions office has teamed up with the Drumheller Dragons for its annual Knee Hockey Tournament. The tournament will be played on Monday morning at Greentree School, with students from St. Anthony’s, Morrin, Greentree and Delia schools participating.
The theme of the 2013 National Non-smoking week in Alberta is “Majority Do”… live a tobacco free life.
The Majority Do non-smoking campaign highlights the shared experience of tobacco use, which are often associated with health risks, and encourages cessation and prevention in Alberta.
The image of smoking and using tobacco products is often normalized in the media to the point that many believe that many more people use tobacco products than really do. In fact, the majority of people enjoy life without tobacco products. This is not just limited to smoking, but smokeless tobacco as well.
Along with the annual Knee Hockey Tournament, there will be awareness activities and “quit kits” available throughout the region.
One major part of the National Non-smoking week is Weedless Wednesday. This is a chance for those who smoke and want to quit, to try to see if they can go a day without smoking or using a tobacco product. The adage of taking it “one day at a time” just may fit for some and if they can prove to themselves they can go one day without smoking, maybe they could go two days…
Alberta Health Services offers a number of initiatives to assist those who are interested in giving up tobacco products, including the AlbertaQuits hotline at 1-866-710-QUIT (7848). There is also online cessation support at www.albertaquits.ca.
QuitCore is often offered in the area. This is a free groups support program that helps connect people who are attempting to quit for support and providing the tools and strategies to be successful.
There is also one-on-one counseling with Tobacco Reduction Counselors or Addiction Counselors at the Addiction Services Drumheller and Area offices (includes Three Hills and Hanna). Call 403-823-1660.
