Quitting cigarettes is a different experience for everyone, but most who leave the habit behind tend to agree that the result is extremely positive.

SA国际影视传媒淚 felt so much better [after quitting],SA国际影视传媒� said Fort Liard resident Genevieve McLeod. SA国际影视传媒淚 wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 getting sick as much and noticed my breathing improved greatly.SA国际影视传媒�

McLeod, a mother of five, smoked for 25 years before she finally quit in 2020, motivated by a desire to improve her health for her family.

SA国际影视传媒淭he cravings were tough,SA国际影视传媒� she admitted, but she managed to control them by changing her routine and by reminding herself how she would feel if she gave surrendered to impulse and lit up.

SA国际影视传媒淥ne helpful tip was telling myself, having a cigarette right now would taste like licking an ashtray and make me feel sick,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Debra Buggins, a former smoker from Hay River, also experienced improvements to her health after quitting smoking.

She started the habit in the mid-SA国际影视传媒�70s, and after faltering on her first attempt to quit, she succeeded the second time she tried, in 2006.

SA国际影视传媒淥ne morning I was laying in bed and I was coughing so bad,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 was thinking about going outside for a cigarette, and I felt like I wanted to puke when I thought about it, so I said, OK, I quit. I just quit.SA国际影视传媒�

Like McLeod, Buggins admitted quitting was challenging, but found her own ways of dealing with the cravings that would SA国际影视传媒渃ome and go.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淚f I got a craving, I pictured my lungs so full of smoke that I was gasping for air and I couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 breathe,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭he craving would go away.

SA国际影视传媒淚 realized after I quit smoking how much of it is up in our thoughts, in our head, and what we tell ourselves,SA国际影视传媒� she added.

Other benefits

Quitting smoking also has major financial upside.

Buggins saved so much money when she quit that she was soon able to buy herself a new laptop, and estimates that her partner, who smokes about a pack a day, spends close to $700 a month on the habit.

Jennifer Vital, a former smoker from Nahanni Butte, also noticed immediate improvements to her financial situation when she gave up cigarettes after nearly six years.

SA国际影视传媒淚 quit because I got pregnant,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

SA国际影视传媒淚 save so much more money now,SA国际影视传媒� she added, noting that she smoked about a pack a day, and that a pack of cigarettes now costs around $25 in her community.

Like McLeod and Buggins, Vital experienced significant health benefits after stubbing out her final cigarette.

SA国际影视传媒淚 feel a lot better,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 have a lot more energy.SA国际影视传媒�

While Vital, McLeod and Buggins all had different experiences quitting cigarettes, all three encouraged anybody who is considering doing the same to go for it.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 never too late,SA国际影视传媒� said Vital.

SA国际影视传媒淛ust stick with it, even if you slipSA国际影视传媒� added McLeod.

Buggins, a community wellness worker who has lots of experience working with people struggling with addictions, also emphasized the importance of getting support.

Help is available

There are many resources available for people who want to quit smoking, including a new tobacco cessation program helmed by the GNWTSA国际影视传媒檚 Department of Health and Social Services (HSS).

The program is SA国际影视传媒渘ot complicated,SA国际影视传媒� according to nurse and facilitator Dale Matheson, and is currently available in Yellowknife, Ndilo, Dettah, Fort Resolution and Lutsel KSA国际影视传媒檈 with SA国际影视传媒渁 bit of outreachSA国际影视传媒� available for some other communities.

Those who are interested in trying the program need only contact their primary care provider, who will then contact Matheson to set up an appointment. After a consultation, patients will be provided with a SA国际影视传媒渜uit kit,SA国际影视传媒� along with the medication CHAMPIX, or nicotine replacement tools like patches, inhalers and gum, depending on their needs and preferences.

HSS SA国际影视传媒渨orked tirelesslySA国际影视传媒� to put the program together, according to Matheson, and it has already had a very positive impact.

Since May 2023, she has seen 70 people. 28.6 per cent of those individuals have quit smoking, 31.4 per cent have SA国际影视传媒渞educedSA国际影视传媒� their tobacco use, and 45 per cent arenSA国际影视传媒檛 responding, SA国际影视传媒渨hich means they arenSA国际影视传媒檛 ready,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

There is a significant need for this kind of programming in the NWT.

According to Matheson, the latest survey data available, from 2018, revealed that 33 per cent of residents age 15 or over used tobacco, and 51 per cent of people who identified as Indigenous people did so.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a huge problem,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淪moking tobacco causes millions of deaths in Canada a year.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 not good or bad that you smoke, itSA国际影视传媒檚 just stupid,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭he cost, the health concerns, the cancers, the chronic lung diseaseSA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淲e all understand it and know it, but the addiction is a beast, and the effects of tobacco, you wonSA国际影视传媒檛 always see them until youSA国际影视传媒檙e 50 or 60, then you canSA国际影视传媒檛 breathe and youSA国际影视传媒檙e on oxygen. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 quite a dismal outcome, and if you think about it, itSA国际影视传媒檚 all preventable.SA国际影视传媒�