STOP Study helps Ontario smokers “go weedless" - Nicotine replacement therapy dramatically improves quit rate

January 24, 2007 (Toronto) – It’s ‘Weedless Wednesday’ in Ontario, and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), in partnership with the Ministry of Health Promotion, today announced dramatic success in a groundbreaking study that explores the most effective methods in helping Ontarians to quit smoking.

A mass distribution phase of the Smoking Treatment for Ontario Patients (STOP) Study was introduced in January 2006 and is the first of its kind in Canada. An unprecedented 13,000 participants received free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) such as nicotine gum or patches to help them to quit smoking and their effectiveness was monitored for six months.

The results are significant and revealed an improvement between two and four times the typical quitting rates. At least 12 per cent of participants had successfully quit smoking and stayed off tobacco for six months as a direct result of the nicotine replacement therapy supplied by CAMH. This compares with normal quit rates of 7 per cent for Ontarians under the age of 45, and 3 per cent for those over 45 years of age. The STOP Study showed success on the ‘hard to treat’ population.

“We’re proud that 1,600 Ontarians have successfully quit smoking because of the STOP Study,” said Dr. Peter Selby, Clinical Director of Addiction Programs, CAMH and Principal Investigator of the STOP Study.

“It’s clear there’s both a demand and a need for nicotine replacement therapy. With the Ontario government’s help, we’re committed to find the most effective ways to help smokers quit.”

While smoking rates in Ontario have declined over the past twenty years, 1.6 million Ontarians continue to smoke and 16,000 die each year from the effects of tobacco products. In addition, this also means that more than two million people may potentially develop serious illnesses as a direct result of their dependence on tobacco.

Smoking is the largest preventable cause of disease in Ontario and represents a significant burden on Ontario’s health care system, totaling $1.7 billion every year.

“We recognize that smoking is one of the toughest addictions to break,” said Minister of Health Promotion Jim Watson. “That’s why the McGuinty government funded the STOP study as part of our Smoke-Free Ontario strategy. We want to help smokers make this healthy decision for themselves and their families – and to stick to it over the long term. It’s clear that our strategy is working.”

Studies reveal that attempts to quit smoking are more successful when done with the help of a nicotine cessation aid. Unfortunately, many people do not use this resource, partially due to cost. By demonstrating the numbers who quit when given free access to NRTs, the STOP Study shows that access is a significant factor.

Thanks in part to effective health promotion programs, consumption of tobacco in Ontario has declined 18.7 per cent since 2003.

For more information on ways to participate in the STOP Study, please call 1-800 781 2101 or visit www.stopstudy.ca.

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The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is one of the leading addiction and mental health organizations in North America and Canada's largest mental health and addiction teaching hospital. CAMH is a Pan American Health Organization and World Health Organization Collaborating Centre, and is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto. CAMH combines clinical care, research, policy, education and health promotion to improve the lives of people impacted by mental health and addiction issues.

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For more information or to schedule and interview with Dr. Peter Selby, please contact Michael Torres, Media Relations, CAMH (416) 595-6015

For Minister Jim Watson’s office: Adam Grachnik, Press Secretary, Minister’s Office, Ministry of Health promotion (416) 326-8497

For the Ministry of Health Promotion: Julie Rosenberg Communications Branch, Ministry of Health promotion (416) 326-4833