Intervention and treatment: smoking, vaping, and other tobacco use

There are many ways to quit or reduce use, and there are resources that can make the journey easier. 

It is not easy to stop smoking or vaping, and most people need help. Evidence shows that people are most successful when they use medications that help reduce cravings for nicotine, and have the support of a healthcare professional, counsellor, or trusted friend to provide encouragement and motivation.

Your family doctor or pharmacist can tell you about medications that can help you stop using tobacco, and help you decide what is best for you. 

Vapour Products (also known as vapes or electronic cigarettes) have only been around since 2003. Researchers and medical professionals are not able to say what the long-term impacts of vaping will be.  Most agree that vaping is not harmless, but it can be a harm reduction tool for people who smoke – vaping exposes people to fewer chemicals than tobacco smoke.

The Food and Drugs Act (FDA) has not approved vaping products in Canada. That means doctors and pharmacists cannot prescribe them, and the vaping industry cannot make any health claims about them being able to help people quit smoking. If you smoke and have tried approved methods to quit and are still smoking, switching completely to vaping nicotine is less harmful than continuing to smoke.