CAMH expands successful smoking-cessation study to help more Ontarians quit

For Immediate Release - March 16, 2007 (TORONTO) - Minister of Health Promotion Jim Watson today announced that the McGuinty government has invested in the immediate distribution of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) to 11,000 participants in the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health's (CAMH) Smoking Treatment for Ontario Patients (STOP) Study.

Participants will also be given helpful information and resources, such as counselling, to help in the quitting process. Those interested in participating in the STOP Study may do so by calling 1-800-350-5305 starting March 19, 2007 at 10:00 a.m.

"This investment reflects an understanding that the addiction to nicotine is one of the toughest there is to break," Minister Watson said. "We have a responsibility to help smokers to quit and this initiative will help to guide us in finding the best way to make that happen."

The STOP Study, the first study of its kind in Canada, distributes nicotine replacement therapy free of charge along with access to supportive telephone counselling and monitors its effectiveness in helping smokers to quit. This mass distribution model has achieved 12 per cent quit rates among smokers who participated in the first trial last January, 2006. The total cost of the NRT and distribution for this round of 11,000 six-week courses is $2,501,000.

"We're proud that 1,600 Ontarians have successfully quit smoking so far because of the first STOP Study trial," said Dr. Peter Selby, Clinical Director of Addiction Programs, CAMH and Principal Investigator of the STOP Study. "It's clear there's both a demand and a need for nicotine replacement therapy. With the Ontario government's help, we're committed to finding the most effective ways to help smokers quit."

Smoking kills an average of 16,000 people in Ontario each year. Tobacco-related diseases cost the Ontario health care system at least $1.7 billion a year, result in more than $2.6 billion in productivity losses, and account for at least 500,000 hospital days each year. The government's Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy is one of the most comprehensive in North America. Ontario's tobacco consumption has fallen by 18.7 per cent or more than 2.6 billion cigarettes since 2003. During that time, the government has increased its investments in tobacco control six-fold to a total of $60 million, including a $10 million increase in 2006 over the previous year.

Over 15,000 Ontarians have been supported in their efforts to quit smoking due to the success of the STOP Study.

Media Contacts: Adam Grachnik, Minister's Office, (416) 326-8497; Julie Rosenberg, Communications Branch, (416) 326-4833; Michael Torres, Media Relations Coordinator, CAMH, (416) 595-6015

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The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is one of the largest addiction and mental health organizations in North America and Canada's leading mental health and addiction teaching hospital. CAMH is a Pan American Health Organization and World Health Organization Collaborating Centre, and is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto. CAMH combines clinical care, research, policy, education and health promotion to improve the lives of people impacted by mental health and addiction issues.