The federal government will invest $1.9 million toward a new smoking cessation project in the NWT.
NWT Liberal MP Michael McLeod and the territorial minister of health and social services, Lesa Semmler, announced the funding at a press conference on Friday afternoon.
The Supporting Tobacco Cessation project will offer treatment and support to people in primary care clinics and those admitted to hospital.
The project will employ the “Ottawa model” of smoking cessation – so named for the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, rather than the federal seat of power. The Ottawa model aims to make smoking cessation treatment “part of routine care to all patients who are tobacco users.”
“This approach has been used successfully in other parts of Canada and has been proven to help more people quit smoking for good, reduce hospital visits and healthcare costs and lower the risk of early death,” said Semmler.
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The minister added that smoking rates in the NWT are among the highest in Canada.
“While about one in 10 non-Indigenous residents in the territory over the age of 15 smoke, the rate of Indigenous residents is nearly five times that,” said Semmler.
It is not yet clear when the new program will implemented.
Residents in the NWT who are looking for support to quit smoking can also call the national Quitline at 1-866-366-3667.
