Prince George, BC – "There has never been a better time to quit smoking."

That from BC Lung Association CEO, Scott McDonald, who points to the variety of tools available to BC residents through the provincial Smoking Cessation Program. 

Since the program launched in September of 2011, the BC Health Ministry says more than 161-thousand orders for nicotine replacement have been placed through HealthLink BC.  In addition, another 45-thousand people have obtained prescriptions for a smoking cessation drug from their physicians.  The program assists with the cost of cessation aids – once each calendar year, BC residents with MSP coverage can receive coverage for a single course of either a prescribed smoking cessation drug or a free supply of nicotine replacement bum or patches.

Health Minister, Margaret MacDiarmid, says accessing help with your resolution to quit can be as simple as calling 8-1-1, HealthLink’s 24/7 line.  "Quitting smoking can be the best thing you can do for your health, as it will reduce health risks like cancer, heart disease, and asthma," says the minister.

While BC has the lowest smoking rate in Canada at 14.3-percent, MacDiarmid says there are still approximately 500-thousand British Columbians who smoke and an estimated 70-percent of those smokers want to quit.

Canadian Cancer Society, BC and Yukon CEO, Barbara Kaminsky, is urging people to make a positive impact on their health.  "I applaud those British Columbians who have taken the important next step and chosen the Smoking Cessation Program."

For support or information on how to plan to quit smoking, check out www.quitnow.ca  For more information on the provincial program, click here.