info for smokers...

If you're interested in quitting, this is for you:

A massive study designed to help Ontarians quit smoking is offering free nicotine replacement therapy to 14,000 smokers across the province.

Called STOP — Smoking Treatment for Ontario Patients — the provincially backed study is the first of its kind in Canada. You don't need to be a patient to apply. Just a smoker with a willingness to end the habit.

"Smokers have been clamouring for this," says Dr. Peter Selby, the study's principal investigator and the clinical director of addiction programs at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. "We know that there's a huge demand for this — smokers are wanting help."
Free nicotine patches or nicotine gum will be mailed to applicants who qualify after a phone interview. Judging by the response just hours after the program was announced yesterday, Canada Post will be very busy. "Currently, we've got 150 calls on per second," Selby said early yesterday afternoon about the $3 million program....

...Call 1-800-350-5305 to enrol. (from the Toronto Star, January13)