(Submitted photo/CCS)

By Paid Partnership

Talk Tobacco

Talk Tobacco: Breaking free from commercial tobacco addiction

Jan 14, 2021 | 12:06 PM

If you smoke or vape, you may be at a higher risk for more serious outcomes of COVID-19 since the virus can harm your lungs and weaken your immune system’s ability to fight respiratory infections.

Fortunately, a support line that was launched in Saskatchewan in November 2020 is proving successful at helping people quit smoking or vaping.

Talk Tobacco is a free and confidential service that is culturally tailored for First Nations, Métis, Inuit and urban Indigenous people in Saskatchewan. It was adapted from the Canadian Cancer Society’s Smoker’s Helpline program.

“It has been developed with input from Indigenous partners, leaders, health care providers and community members to ensure that services are developed with an understanding of Indigenous health and wellness and in the context of distinct cultures, rights and circumstances,” said Demi Benjoe, senior specialist for the Talk Tobacco project in Saskatchewan at the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS).

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By phone, Talk Tobacco Quit Coaches provide clients with guidance, support, tools and resources to support them in their journey to quit or reduce their commercial tobacco use. Quit Coaches can help make a plan, deal with withdrawal symptoms provide information on the use of medications to help with quitting. Coaches will often have several calls with clients to provide ongoing support. Service is provided in English, French and 16 different Indigenous languages.

“Most people want to quit smoking or vaping on their own cold turkey, with willpower. During a major life change, especially one that deals with addiction, having a Quit Coach can positively impact the success. They’re an additional tool to add to your quit no matter how you choose to do that,” said Quit Coach ‘Sara’.

In fact, it has been proven that phone support lines like Talk Tobacco result in high success rates for those quitting smoking or vaping.

Tobacco has always been sacred when it comes to traditional uses for many Indigenous people and Talk Tobacco respects its use for ceremonial purposes. We know that commercial tobacco, however, is the leading cause of preventable disease and death in Canada and is responsible for about 30 per cent of all cancer deaths. The rate of smoking among First Nations, Métis and Inuit is two to five times higher than among non-Indigenous Canadians.

If you don’t quit now, then when?

National Non-Smoking Week runs January 17th to 23^rd 2021. Call 1-833-998-TALK (8255) to speak to a Quit Coach or visit www.talktobacco.ca to find out more.

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*This content was created by paNOW’s commercial content division.