Your Gifts: helping people stop smoking and lead healthier lives

Turning an obstacle into a blessing

"The people at CAMH's Nicotine Dependence Clinic gave me good information and motivation, and helped me make a plan that worked for me. Without them, I don't know if I would have succeeded." Affan Chowdhry

Two years ago, Affan Chowdhry, a producer at CBC Radio, decided to change his life -- to improve his physical health, to become more emotionally balanced, and to reconnect with his faith. One of the biggest challenges he faced was to stop smoking. He had tried to quit on a number of occasions, but like many, he soon went back to cigarettes. The traditional advice -- "use your willpower" -- just wasn't enough.

Determined to do it properly, Affan came to the Nicotine Dependence Clinic at CAMH in the fall of 2002. "I had a very good experience," he says. "They gave me the information and the motivation I needed, and challenged me to succeed."

Making a plan was a key factor in Affan's success. Together with the clinicians at CAMH, he considered his routine and lifestyle and developed a plan that worked for him. Over the next few months, they monitored the plan together and discussed the challenges he encountered.

One of the challenges he encountered was to quit during Ramadan, a time of fasting in the Muslim faith: chewing nicotine gum and using the patch are considered to be breaking the fast. He cites the sensitivity and creativity of the health professionals at CAMH for helping him find solutions, allowing him "to turn this obstacle into a blessing, and find inspiration and guidance."
Affan stopped smoking in November 2002 and, but for one brief lapse five months later, he has been smoke-free ever since.

"It is very satisfying to know that the interventions by our interdisciplinary team help these patients quit and improve their health."  -- Peter Selby, MBBS, CCFP, MHSc, ASAM, Clinical Director, Addictions Program, and Head of the Nicotine Dependence Clinic, CAMH

• One in five deaths are due to smoking. That is five times those due to motor vehicle accidents, suicides, other drug use, murder and HIV combined.
• In 1991, smoking-attributable health care costs in Canada were $2.5 billion (CAN).
• Additional smoking-attributable costs included $1.5 billion for residential care, $2 billion due to workers' absenteeism, $80 million due to fires and $10.5 billion due to lost future income caused by premature death.
  

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