Province Joins International Smoking Cessation Initiative

Nova Scotia is teaming up with its partners from around the globe for Quit and Win 2000, a unique international smoking cessation campaign promoted by the World Health Organization. The province is believed to be the only Canadian participant.

Quit and Win 2000 is open to those 18 years of age and older who have been smoking daily for at least a year. Entrants must recruit a non-smoking 'buddy' for support and quit smoking for a minimum of four weeks between May 2 and May 31, 2000, to be eligible to win local and international prizes. Provincial participants who meet the contest criteria will have their name and their buddy's name entered in the draw for provincial prizes and may also be entered in the international draw for a prize of $10,000 US.

Nova Scotia has hosted similar initiatives in previous years, but Quit and Win 2000 marks the province's first experience in the global effort.

"Smoking is a global epidemic, so it is quite fitting that we have joined our local and international partners in raising awareness of this serious issue," said Health Minister Jamie Muir. "In addition to providing Nova Scotians with an incentive to quit, Quit and Win 2000 will also help identify successful approaches to smoking cessation which could form the basis of future initiatives."

The Quit and Win concept was introduced in the 1980s and has since sparked worldwide interest. Thirteen countries participated in the first international contest in 1994 and at least 100 have signed on for the year 2000 challenge. Based on earlier experiences, an estimated 15 to 25 per cent of Quit and Win participants are still smoke-free after one year. Between 30,000 and 40,000 smokers have successfully quit with the campaign to date.

The Nova Scotia campaign is being co-ordinated by the Tobacco Control Unit of the Nova Scotia Department of Health in partnership with the Nova Scotia division of the Canadian Cancer Society; Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia; Heart Health Nova Scotia; Medical Society of Nova Scotia; Central, Eastern, Northern and Western Regional Public Health Services and the Lung Association of Nova Scotia.

For further information on Quit and Win 2000, contact the Tobacco Control Unit, Nova Scotia Department of Health, at 902-424-5187 or any of the partners listed above.