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Smoking ban now in effect across Ontario

May 31st marks World No Tobacco Day and is also the day that Ontario will begin to enforce a smoking ban that will make all indoor public spaces (with some exceptions for designated smoking rooms in nursing homes, veteran’s hospitals and psychiatric hospitals) smoke-free. Despite this exemption, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) became a smoke-free facility last September. Considering that those living with an addiction or mental illness are up to 30-70% more likely to be smokers, this was a bold step, but one that was important to the health of our clients and staff.

CAMH’s efforts to help people break the habit has recently been supported by the Ministry of Health Promotion, granting additional funding to CAMH’s STOP Study which has begun to distribute free nicotine replacement therapy to 15,000 Ontarians.

Under the new Smoke-Free Ontario Act, smoking will no longer be permitted in approximately 700 restaurants, bars, bingo halls, night clubs and casinos throughout Ontario. The legislation will also restrict smoking on some outdoor patios.

CAMH experts available for comment:

Dr. Peter Selby, Clinical Director, Addictions Programs

physiological and psychological effects of smoking and addiction
nicotine cessation and nicotine replacement therapy
Principal Investigator, of the STOP Study, currently offering free NRT to 15,000 Ontarians.

Dr. Roberta Ferrence, Director, Ontario Tobacco Research Unit

health effects of second and third-hand smoke
smoking policy and legislation
trends in smoking from different jurisdictions and special populations.

Kristen Cleary, Therapist, Nicotine Dependence Clinic

co-chair of Smoke Free Policy at CAMH responsible for the formulation and implementation of CAMH’s internal smoke free initiative
facilitated province wide workshop to other psychiatric and addiction facilities on how to go smoke free.

For more information or to schedule an interview, call CAMH at (416) 595 6015 or email at ann_mahdy@camh.net

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The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is a specialized teaching hospital fully affiliated with the University of Toronto, and is the largest mental health and addiction facility in Canada. CAMH is also a Pan American Health Organization and a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre.

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