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Sherry Damatarca: A new report issued by the Lung Association reveals that more than 90% of current smokers say they want to quit. Despite all the progress made in getting Canadians to butt out, smoking kills 37,000 people in Canada every year. Of the estimated 5 million Canadians who continue to smoke, a recent survey finds that 79% of smokers have tried to quit with many indicating they don't have the supports they need to help them quit for good.
Based on new research release today The Lung Association wants to ensure that all Canadians have universal access to smoking cessation programs, supports and medications, and that health professionals have the tools and training they need to help.
Dr. Alan Kaplan is a family physician and Chair of the Family Physician Airways Group of Canada.
Dr. Alan Kaplan: Smoking is linked to virtually every major cause of death for Canadians. Assistance in smoking cessation can be had through counseling and excellent medications. The access to smoking cessation medications and smoke cessation programs is somewhat limited in Canada, and hopefully that's something that will be improved with this report.
Sherry Damatarca: Based on the results of the report Making Quit Happen: Canada's Challenges to Smoking Cessation, The Lung Association is calling for smoking cessation programs and medications to be widely accessible to all people living in Canada. The report also identifies that more health professionals need to be trained in smoking cessation interventions.
Dr. Alan Kaplan: Less than 20% of family physicians who have been surveyed regarding smoke cessation feel that they have had enough formal training in smoke cessation. So they have to recognize that they need to do it, despite their lack of formal training and get the resources that are available in the community to assist them.
Sherry Damatarca: The Federal Tobacco Control Strategy has set out a new goal to further reduce smoking prevalence in Canada from 19% to 12% by 2011. This goal sets the exception that more adults smokers will quit, 1.5 million more.
Dr. Alan Kaplan: I often tell a smoker that the single most important thing I will ever do for them is assist them in quiting smoking.
Sherry Damatarca: For more information on smoking cessation, speak with your family doctor or visit http://lung.ca/. Sherry Damatarca reporting.
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