The provincial government will spend between $15 million and $25 million a year providing smokers in British Columbia with nicotine replacement therapies for free, Premier Christy Clark announced today.
As well, smoking-cessation prescription drugs will be covered under PharmaCare, Clark said in a news release.
"Every year tobacco-related deaths rob us needlessly of friends, family and loved ones," Clark said in a statement. "Tobacco is the largest single cause of premature death and disease in our province and while a lot of progress has been made, there is still more we can do. This program will provide smokers with a new level of direct support to quit, to live smoke-free, and to improve their own health as well as the health of their families."
Starting Sept. 30, British Columbians will have the choice of either nicotine gum or patches to help quit tobacco with a free supply for up to 12 weeks, or obtaining coverage of prescribed smoking cessation drugs through PharmaCare.
During her leadership bid, Clark said she would reinvest proceeds from tobacco sales into nicotine replacement therapies and cessation products, if elected premier.
gbellett@vancouversun.com
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