Headwaters Health Care Centre Wants to Help You
Kick the Nic

Orangeville, ON, January 18, 2010 – “Quitting is contagious, pass it on!” is the Canadian Council for Tobacco Control (CCTC) National Non-Smoking Week theme for January 17- 23, 2010. Headwaters Health Care Centre and the Dufferin Area Family Health Team are working together to help you ‘Kick the Nic’.

“With New Year’s resolutions to get healthier, Weedless Wednesday on January 20^th is a good time to quit smoking. ‘Kick the Nic’ is a great program to help patients in the hospital and people in the community who want to quit smoking,” says Cholly Boland, President and CEO, Headwaters Health Care Centre.

Recent research published in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests social networks influence smoking behaviours and decisions. Researchers found people followed the quitting habits of their spouses, friends, brothers and sisters, and in small firms, behaviour of co-workers was also influential.

When a husband or wife quit, the chance that their spouse would smoke, fell by 67%. When a brother or sister quit, the chance a sibling smoked decreased by 25%. Smoking cessation by a friend decreased the chances by 36% and among people working in small firms, smoking cessation by a co-worker decreased the chances by 34%.

If you are thinking of quitting smoking, ‘Kick the Nic’ is a free program offered at Headwaters Health Care Centre in Orangeville on the lower level in Classroom 1. The first Wednesday of each month is an information session from 6 – 7pm and group sessions are held every Wednesday from 7 – 8 pm.

“’Kick the Nic’ group sessions provide an additional support network to increase your chance of successfully quitting and staying smoke free,” says Paula, R.N., Nurse Educator and “Kick the Nic” program facilitator with the Dufferin Area Family Health Team. Through ‘Kick the Nic’ you’ll learn why it is so hard to quit, methods to help you successfully quit and your body's response to quitting. At the sessions you will discuss challenges and successes, coping strategies, how to stay on track and life after smoking.

For more information on “Kick the Nic’ call Barb at 519-938-8802 ext. 314.

The public is invited to provide comments and suggestions about hospital services. Please contact Cholly Boland, President and CEO, Headwaters Health Care Centre at 519-941-2702 ext. 2200.

About Headwaters Health Care Centre
Headwaters Health Care Centre serves more than 110,000 residents in Caledon, Orangeville, Shelburne and Dufferin County. The hospital operates two sites – Headwaters Orangeville, a 74 bed acute care hospital and Headwaters Shelburne, a 26 bed complex continuing care hospital. Visit www.headwatershealth.ca.

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