By Dan Marshall

Weedless Wednesday includes Nanaimo event called Quit Smoking for Good

Jan 18, 2017 | 9:20 AM

NANAIMO — On Weedless Wednesday thousands of people will try to give up smoking.

It’s part of National Non-Smoking Week in Canada which focuses on the health benefits of being smoke free.

The latest Statistics Canada figures show the national smoking rate at 18.1 per cent while in British Columbia the rate is 14.3 per cent 

Dr. Derek Poteryko with Island Health says numbers trend a bit higher in Nanaimo.

“British Columbians are actually the healthiest in Canada,” said Poteryko. “Central Island, we are three or four per cent above the provincial average, and then if you move north to Qualicum/Parksville it trends back down.”

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Poteryko will be a part of a workshop on Wednesday at 12 p.m. called Quit Smoking for Good at the Beban Park Social Centre.

“It’s going to be a 45 minute power quit. It’s more if you are interested in quitting but even if you aren’t and are a smoker and just want to come and kick the tires – we’re there to offer resources,” said Poteryko.

For those looking to butt out there are resources at a national, provincial, and local level.

Poteryko notes that some of the options for quitting are offered for free.

“We have the 24 hour quit line through Quit Now BC. Through Health BC, through the nurses helpline they will also help a person obtain nicotine replacement therapy as well as some of the medications that are used to quit smoking for free. Locally we have the Central Island Smoking Intervention Clinics which we’re a part of,” said Poteryko.

According to Poteryko it will often take a smoker four or five quit attempts before ultimately kicking the habit for good.

Numbers released by the province earlier this week indicate more than 230,000 people have used resources from BC’s Smoking Cessation Program to date.