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Quitting Smoking & Tobacco Use

Last updated on January 27, 2022

Tobacco-related illness is the leading cause of preventable death in British Columbia. Tobacco use causes up to 6,000 deaths in the province each year; killing more people than all other drugs, motor vehicle collisions, murder, suicide and HIV/AIDS combined (Selected Vital Statistics and Health Status Indicators, Annual Report 2011, Vital Statistics Agency). Health care costs for treatment of tobacco-related illness are estimated to be $2.3 billion each year (The Costs of Substance Abuse in Canada 2002, Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse 2006).

If you use tobacco and want to quit, there are several supports available to help you. You may wish to talk with your doctor, counsellor, pharmacist, dentist or another health professional to discuss the health benefits of stopping tobacco use.  As well, two programs provide support to people who are trying to quit smoking or tobacco use:

QuitNow

Support for British Columbians who wish to quit or reduce tobacco and e-cigarette use is provided 24 hours a day, free-of-charge, through QuitNow. Go to quitnow.ca or call 1-877-455-2233 to learn more.

B.C. Smoking Cessation Program

The B.C. government’s Smoking Cessation Program helps eligible B.C. residents stop smoking or stop using other tobacco products by assisting them with the cost of quitting aids such as prescription drugs or nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products (nicotine gum or patches).

For more information about how the program works, see the program BC PharmaCare website.

Health Authority Contacts

Health authorities work their communities to address tobacco and vapour product use. To learn more, contact the Health Authority team responsible for tobacco and vapour reduction in your area:

More information is available to help you and your family live smoke-free.

Vaping and quitting smoking (Government of Canada fact sheets)

It's Never Too Late to Quit Smoking (PDF, 457KB)

Make your home and car smoke-free: A guide to protecting your family from second-hand smoke

QuitNow provides 24-hour support for British Columbians who want to quit smoking and remain smoke-free. The service is free of charge and offers both telephone and online support. The service allows you to interact with other quitters, track your status and savings, and connect instantly with expert Quit Coaches.

HealthLink BC features medically-approved information on more than 5,000 health topics, symptoms, medications, and tips for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Visit online or call 8-1-1 from anywhere in British Columbia to speak with a nurse any time of the day or night. On weekdays, you can speak to a dietitian about nutrition and healthy eating. At night we have pharmacists available to answer your medication questions.