Quitting smoking is the single most important thing you can do for your health! You can add years to your life and greatly lower your risk of getting a tobacco-related illness. If you are ready to quit, there is lots of support available to you.
Please note: Quit smoking workshops at Southwestern Public Health are currently on hold due to COVID-19. Please see the resources below for quit smoking support.
Get help if you receive OW or ODSP
Some local pharmacies partner with SWPH to provide free nicotine replacement therapy and counselling to OW or ODSP recipients:
Sign up to quit smoking
OR Call 519-631-4125 for St. Thomas/Elgin County,
519-533-4560 -Woodstock/Oxford County
Resources to help you quit
Studies show that it may take up to 30 quit attempts for you to stop smoking for good. Preparing yourself and thinking through your smoking triggers is important. Don’t give up!
- Smokers’ Helpline provides free, confidential support and information online and through text messages.
- Health Connect Ontario provides free, confidential support and information about quitting tobacco over the phone. Call 1-866-797-0000 to speak to a care coach.
- OHIP+ provides help to quit smoking if you are aged 24 and under and have no private insurance.
- Ontario’s Pharmacy Smoking Cessation Program provides support to people receiving Ontario Drug Benefit
- Talk Tobacco provides free Indigenous quit smoking and vaping support.
- STOP on the NET: An online research program designed to support individuals 18 years of age and older in an attempt to quit smoking. Eligible participants are mailed 4 boxes of nicotine patches and 2 boxes of gum or lozenges.
- Ottawa Model for Smoking Cessation Community Program: For Ontarians who want to quit smoking but are not enrolled with a health care provider or cannot easily access smoking cessation support. Eligible participants will receive a consultation, follow-up support, and nicotine replacement therapy vouchers. Call 1-888-645-5405 and leave your contact information on the voicemail. A Nicotine Addiction Specialist will get back to you within 2 business days!
Get help from your primary health care provider
Free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is available to rostered patients at:
- Thames Valley Family Health Team
- Oxford County Community Health Centre
- East Elgin Family Health Team
- West Elgin Community Health Centre
- Canadian Mental Health Association, Oxford
- Canadian Mental Health Association, Elgin
- Indwell, Woodstock
Learn more about smoking and vaping.