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- Interactive Tool: Are You Ready to Quit Smoking?
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Mental Health & Substance Use Categories
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Well Being
- Notice: Savour the Moment
- Belly-Breathing
- Five Ways to Well-being
- Connect: Build Positive Relationships
- An Active and Healthy Brain
- Keeping an active and healthy mind
- Keep Learning: Open Your Mind
- Keeping Good Mental Well-Being as You Age
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- Mental Health and Well-Being
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Substance Use
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Parenting and Substance Use
- Building Kids’ Resilience
- Keep Having Conversations with Adult Children
- Keep Having Conversations with Kids
- Using Conversations That Teach Resilience: Adult Children
- Using Conversations to Teach Resilience: Kids
- Using Conversations to Teach Resilience: Teens
- How to Get Back on Track after Conflict
- Setting a Healthy Example for Your Kids
- Setting a Healthy Example for Your Teens
- Practicing Good Listening Skills with Teens
- How to Start a Conversation with Teens about Opioids
- Explaining Alcohol to Young Adults
- Opioids and Adult Children
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Quitting Smoking
- Tobacco Use
- Why is Using Tobacco So Addictive?
- Seniors and Tobacco
- Quitting Smoking: Dealing With Weight Gain
- Smoking: Health Risk for Family Members
- Interactive Tool: Are You Ready to Quit Smoking?
- Making Positive Changes in Your Life After Quitting Smoking
- Quitting Smoking: Temptations and Cravings
- My Reasons to Quit Smoking
- Quitting Smoking: Getting Support
- Quitting Smoking: Helping Someone Quit
- Quitting Smoking: Preventing Slips or Relapses
- Nancy's Story: Quitting Smoking Takes More Than Willpower
- Nate's Story: Sick of Smoking
- Quitting Smoking: Coping With Cravings and Withdrawal
- Interactive Tool: How Does Smoking Affect Your Lifespan?
- Interactive Tool: How Much Is Smoking Costing You?
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Resources
- Alcohol & Drug Information Referral Service
- Anxiety Canada
- British Columbia Schizophrenia Society
- BC Mental Health & Substance Use Services
- Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research
- Canadian Mental Health Association - British Columbia
- Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Centre of BC
- Crisis Line Association of BC
- Early Psychosis Intervention
- Family Smart
- Fraser Health Authority - Mental Health and Substance Use
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- British Columbia Responsible & Problem Gambling Program
- HeretoHelp
- Interior Health Authority – Mental Health and Substance Use
- Jessie’s Legacy
- Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre
- Kids Help Phone
- KUU-US Crisis Line Society
- foundrybc.ca
- Mood Disorder Association
- Northern Health Authority – Mental Health and Addiction Services
- Toward the Heart
- Vancouver Coastal Health Authority – Mental Health and Substance Use
British Columbia Specific Information
The BC Smoking Cessation Program helps eligible B.C. residents stop smoking or using other tobacco products by assisting with the cost of smoking cessation prescription drugs or nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products. For more information about the program, including how to get started, visit BC Smoking Cessation Program. For information about the health risks from smoking, tips on how to quit, an overview of smoking cessation aids, and more, see our Quit Smoking health feature. For more tools and resources to help you quit smoking and remain smoke-free, visit Quit Now.
What does this tool help you learn?
This interactive tool measures your readiness to quit smoking. The tool uses the stages-of-change approach, which is based on research about how people typically make behavior changes. The approach suggests that to make positive change, most people go through distinct stages from not thinking about quitting to actually quitting. Based on your answers, this tool will identify the stage you are in and help you think about what to do next.
Reproduced with permission from "A 'Stages of Change' Approach to Helping Patients Change Behavior," March 1, 2000, American Family Physician. Copyright © 2000 American Academy of Family Physicians. All Rights Reserved.
What does your score mean?
Your score will appear as one of the following:
- Not ready. You are not considering quitting for a variety of reasons. You may think that the benefits of smoking outweigh its risks or that you cannot stop smoking.
- Thinking about it. You may have mixed feelings about quitting. In this stage you acknowledge that smoking is a problem, but you are not ready or not sure you want to quit. For example, you may want to quit but believe that you cannot quit because of past failures.
- Preparing. You are motivated to quit smoking and are making small steps toward that goal. In this stage, it is important that you gather information about how to quit so that you understand what you must do to make this major lifestyle change.
- In the process. This is the stage where you are actively taking steps to quit smoking. You will need willpower to prevent starting smoking again. Congratulate yourself for taking this step.
- Have quit. To keep your current non-smoker status, you must continue to successfully avoid temptation. This means anticipating situations in which you might slip up and avoiding those situations. It may take years before the temptation to smoke completely leaves and this change is truly established.
- Have relapsed. If you start to smoke again, don't be discouraged. It doesn't mean you can't quit for good. For most people, it usually takes several tries at quitting before they finally quit. Think of quitting smoking as a process. Learn from this experience at trying, and you will be one step ahead.
What's next?
Quitting smoking, like most major lifestyle changes, is a process. Understanding where you fall in this process—your current stage of change—will help you and your doctor find the right strategy. The best way to stop smoking is to get help and to follow a plan. You can increase your chances of quitting by using medicines, such bupropion (Zyban) or varenicline (Champix). Or you can use nicotine replacement therapy (gum, lozenges, patches, nasal sprays, or inhalers). Counselling (by phone, group, or one-on-one) can also help. And using both medicines and counselling works even better.
For more information, see the topic Quitting Smoking.
Credits
Current as of: October 28, 2021
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine
Donald Sproule MDCM, CCFP - Family Medicine
Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine
Catherine D. Serio PhD - Behavioral Health
Lisa S. Weinstock MD - Psychiatry
Current as of: October 28, 2021
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine & Donald Sproule MDCM, CCFP - Family Medicine & Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine & Catherine D. Serio PhD - Behavioral Health & Lisa S. Weinstock MD - Psychiatry
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Learn how we develop our content.
Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.
Important Phone Numbers
If you or someone you know needs help, call one of the numbers below:
- 9-1-1 if you are in an emergency.
- 8-1-1 for non-emergency information on how to access alternatives to toxic drug supply and substance use services
- 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) if you are considering suicide or are concerned about someone who may be.
- 310Mental Health Support at 310-6789 (no area code needed) for emotional support, information and resources specific to mental health.
- Kid’s Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868 to speak to a professional counsellor, 24 hours a day.
- Alcohol & Drug Information and Referral Service at 1-800-663-1441 (toll-free in B.C.) or 604-660-9382 (in the Lower Mainland) to find resources and support.
Featured Website
Looking for help with mental health and substance use? Start here wellbeing.gov.bc.ca
Find over 2500 service listings related to mental health and substance use supports, as well as many informational articles to support you on your pathway to wellbeing.