Albertans looking to quit or reduce their tobacco intake have a new online ally.
Albertaquits offers tobacco users tools to combat their addiction.
The site includes a live interactive forum where tobacco users can ‘Ask an Expert’ their questions, a calculator to determine the amount a smoker could save by quitting, a resource library and a forum where users can share their stories and experiences in quitting tobacco.
“Tobacco use in Alberta has declined over the past decade yet nearly one in five Albertans continue to use tobacco, and about 3,000 Albertans die from tobacco use every year,” says Dave Rodney, the Associate Minister of Health. “We’ve made progress but we still have work to do. Our strategy and this website are designed to reach out to Albertans who still use tobacco and give them the knowledge, incentives and tools to live healthier lives.”
“Research shows that people who get help are twice as successful at quitting as those who try to quit on their own, says Susan Canning, Manager of the Alberta Health Service Tobacco Reduction Program. “By moving to offer more interactive features in the online environment, we are making that help all the more accessible to Albertans.”
The website is the latest addition to the anti-tobacco programs offered by Alberta Health Services. AHS will continue to offer in-person group support, one-on-one counseling and free nicotine replacement therapy for patients.
