It’s National Non-Smoking Week across Canada and B.C. continues to have to lowest smoking rates in Canada.
Only 14.5 per cent of British Columbians smoke.
Health Minister Terry Lake says he has personally witnessed the harmful effects of smoking.
“I grew up in a house filled with smokers. I saw my parents and siblings struggle to break their terrible addiction to cigarettes. We nursed my mum through multiple heart attacks, lung cancer and emphysema which ultimately claimed her life.”
Lake says he wants all British Columbians to consider the negative health impacts of smoking.
He says the provincial government has many resources including the smoking cessation program and ‘QuitNow’ to help people kick the habit. Free smoking cessation aids are also available through the government.
“Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health and it’s never too late to quit. On Weedless Wednesday smokers can try going just one smoke-free day as a beginning of their journey to better health,” says Lake.
“Weedless Wednesday,” has nothing to do with marijuana as the name might suggest — but is supposed to encourage smokers to give up smoking for just one day, as part of a day-by-day approach to quitting.
Comments