Once a nicotine addiction takes hold of someone, it is often too powerful a grasp to escape, regardless of the health consequences.

It is well-documented that smokers can try multiple times to quit the habit before finally saying they are smoke-free.

In Canada, it has been more than 60 years since the federal government launched its first anti-smoking campaign and in 1976, the first National Non-Smoking Week was established SA国际影视传媒� one that continues today.

As the dangers of smoking are becoming more obvious and accepted as fact, a myriad of cessation products have long since found space on the shelves of Yellowknife pharmacies.

Aaron LaBorde is the pharmacist and owner of SutherlandSA国际影视传媒檚 Drugs and he said over the years, products and resources designed to help people quit have multiplied and many have a place on store shelves, advertised as effective ways to ease out of the nicotine routine.

SA国际影视传媒淭he idea is that you transition from using cigarettes or smoking or tobacco onto these nicotine replacement products, and then you slowly taper the use of them down,SA国际影视传媒� LaBorde said.

SA国际影视传媒淪o, thereSA国际影视传媒檚 patches like the Nicoderm patches, gum forms, thereSA国际影视传媒檚 lozenge forms, there is the spray, and then there is an inhaler,SA国际影视传媒� he said of the many choices that appeal to a customerSA国际影视传媒檚 preference.

The active ingredient is still nicotine, as is contained in tobacco products, but LaBorde said the smoking cessation products do not have some of the carcinogen, or cancer-causing, properties that would be found in the tobacco products.

Prescriptions available

LaBorde said there are also prescription drugs available to help people quit - one being Champix.

SA国际影视传媒淚ts active ingredient is Varenicline, they work differently,SA国际影视传媒� he said of the prescription.

Varenicline does not contain nicotine and instead works by reducing cravings and withdrawal symptoms, giving smoking less of an enjoyable experience.

People who have tried the over-the-counter products several times but found them not completely effective are generally those who will seek the prescription products, LaBorde added.

SA国际影视传媒淭he Champix is actually quite an effective medication to stop smoking. Typically, there is a three-month course (of the prescription) that a person would do,SA国际影视传媒� he said of the length of time the person would be on the drug.

At the Yellowknife Co-op pharmacy, pharmacist Ken Dragon said they sell the same type of smoking cessation products on their shelves and they get a SA国际影视传媒渇air numberSA国际影视传媒� of people wanting to buy them.

SA国际影视传媒淎 lot of times also in the New Year, they will have New YearSA国际影视传媒檚 resolutions where people are looking for those types of things,SA国际影视传媒� Dragon said.

SA国际影视传媒淔or non-prescription items, the most popular is probably the nicotine patches still, either that or the gum.SA国际影视传媒�

The patch offers the convenience of just applying it to the skin and then leaving it on all day, he said.

Often people will buy a specific type of the product through word-of-mouth from other people who have already tried the product, he noted.

SA国际影视传媒淭hey do make lozenges now that you can suck on instead of chewing a piece of gum, and then they also make a spray that you can spray onto or under your tongue,SA国际影视传媒� he said of the choice of products.

SA国际影视传媒淲henever you have a craving for a cigarette, instead of having a cigarette you use one of those items like either a piece of gum, a lozenge or the spray,SA国际影视传媒� Dragon said.

In terms of the prescription choices, he said the first one on the market was Zyban which became popular, and now Champix is most often used to curb cravings.

Challenge accepted

While quitting can be a difficult process for some, LaBorde said it is not one that is insurmountable.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think statistics indicate that if you give it a really serious try, and you do some of the lifestyle changes, and make like a serious commitment of trying to quit, about one in four people that are using either the prescription or some of the kind of products, are tobacco-free or have stopped smoking a year after they started their therapy,SA国际影视传媒� he said of the success rate.

SA国际影视传媒淎nd thatSA国际影视传媒檚 usually what we would consider like a goal.

SA国际影视传媒淚f youSA国际影视传媒檙e not using a prescription product or anything like nicotine replacement, or in therapy, itSA国际影视传媒檚 about one in eight,SA国际影视传媒� he said of the reduced success rate.

While there are vapour products and accessories on the general market that offer an alternative to smoking cigarettes, legislation prohibits selling those, as well as tobacco, in a pharmacy or a store containing a pharmacy in the Northwest Territories, and therefore are not sold in such locations.

SA国际影视传媒擝y Jill Westerman