Press Releases

Contact: Charles Senior, Public Affairs
(416) 847-0972
csenior@bellwood.ca

"It's day 10".
"What do you mean it's day 10?"
"I've now gone 10 days without a cigarette!"
"Good for you, keep it up!"
"I'm trying, but it's a battle!

(Toronto, ON-January 18, 2008) At some point in time, most of us have had this conversation with a friend, colleague or family member.
Most of us know someone who has tried to kick the habit, but unfortunately, because of the strong pull of their addiction to nicotine wound up smoking again.
Most of us also know smoking is the number one preventable cause of death in Canada. (Health Canada)
Most of us also know a family member or friend who continues to smoke.

What we may not know is that in 2005, 19% of daily smokers in Canada attempted to quit 2-3 times, and 14% attempted to quit 4 or more times.
What we may not know is that in 2005, slightly fewer than 5 million Canadians aged 15 and older were smokers - approximately 19% of the population. (Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey 2005)

National Non-Smoking Week 2008 is a chance for smokers and non-smokers to see quitting as a possibility.
As a smoker, non-smoking week can be seen as an opportunity to quit for a day, a week, a month, or a lifetime. As a non-smoker, non-smoking week can be a time to support smokers who want to quit. This can be done with positive encouragement, and reminders of the benefits of improved health, financial savings, and participation in activities not involving smoking.

Dr. Steven Melemis is a staff physician at Bellwood Health Services Inc., a treatment facility that helps clients recover from addictions to substances and behavioural addictions. As part of clients' program goals, Dr. Melemis encourages and works with anyone who also wants to stop smoking. He encourages people to not let their previous history discourage them from trying again.

"Don't let past attempts stop you from trying. People attempt to quit for various reasons: either because smoking has taken control of their life, there has been a health scare from bronchitis or other health concerns, or it's just not as convenient and acceptable to smoke as before. One of the most important things is to treat smoking as an addiction. This means recovery is not about stopping, but about a new healthy life pattern. This will help make it easier to not smoke. It's important that when you choose to quit, you find ways to relax and reward yourself" says Dr. Melemis.
Good News

We know that in 2005, 28% of Canadians surveyed reported as being former smokers.
We know that most people try to quit seven times before they succeed. While unsuccessful, these attempts to quit are actually part of the process of quitting. (Canadian Cancer Society)
We know that fewer Canadians are smoking, and they are smoking fewer cigarettes on a daily basis. In 1985, daily smokers consumed an average of 20.6 cigarettes per day. Since then the number has been gradually declining. In 2005, the average amount of cigarettes smoked per day was 15.7.

We know quitting is possible! (Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey 2005)

About Bellwood

Bellwood Health Services Inc., a Toronto-based addiction treatment facility, offers treatment for both men and women across Canada for substance abuse and dependency, problem gambling, sexual addiction and eating disorders and family programs for those concerned over loved ones use. For more information about Bellwood, contact 416.495.0926 or 1.800.387.6198 or visit www.bellwood.ca

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