Prince George, B.C. –  It has been just over a year since the B.C. Government launched its smoking cessation program and  so far smokers have  placed 149,899 orders for free products to help them kick the habit.  A further  40 thousand have  received a prescription for a  smoking cessation drug while visiting their Doctor for another reason.

But is the program working in Northern B.C.?   

According to a study  in 2010 by Physicians for a Smoke Free Canada, the provincial  percentage of  people who smoke was 14.3%.  That same study indicated the percentage of Northern Health region residents who smoke was 23.1%,  the highest among all Health Authorities in the Province.  

Within this region, the 2010 study indicated the highest percentage of smokers are in the Northwest (24.6%) followed by the Northeast with 22.9% and then the Northern Interior region with 22.5%. 

So despite the higher percentages of  smokers  in the northern  population ,  the stats show   the  north had the second  lowest number of  orders  for  a smoking cessation  product.  

Of the  near 150 thousand orders for free product  placed  since  September 30^th of 2011,   about 7% ( 10, 418 )  came from  people  living under the umbrella of Northern Health.

Here is how the smoking cessation product orders  stacked up  from other health regions:

•         Fraser Health = 49,783 or 33 % of all orders.
•         Interior Health = 32,955 or 22% of all orders.
•         Vancouver Island Health Authority = 30,408 or 20 % of all orders.
•         Vancouver Coastal = 21,695 or 14 % of all orders.
•         No postal code = 4,640 or 3 % of all orders.

The program is easily accessed by calling 8-1-1, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and aims to help British Columbians stop smoking by assisting with the cost of smoking cessation aids.

Those who  register  with the program are also able to receive support from QuitNow Services (‘QuitNow’), which is operated by the BC Lung Association.