For 25 years, the challenge “I quit, I win!” » helps Quebecers quit smoking. For the first time this year, we are also inviting them to free themselves from their nicotine addiction caused by vaping products.
Getting rid of a nicotine addiction is not a trivial matter. It’s not just a bad habit or a question of willpower. It is a psychoactive substance that acts on the brain and causes it to constantly demand a new dose.
Spokesperson for the challenge, pharmacist Alexandre Chagnon is well placed to testify to the difficulty experienced by smokers seeking to quit for good.
“We must not kid ourselves, it is very difficult, especially in the first days and weeks,” he explains. You may experience withdrawal effects such as headaches and irritability. »
However, there are several methods to achieve this and the challenge “I quit, I win!” » offers a proven recipe. It is estimated that 75% of participants manage not to touch cigarettes or vaping products during the six weeks of the competition.
According to Alexandre Chagnon, the best strategy remains preparation. You first have to set a date – this year the challenge begins on February 5, 2024 – then you do a good cleaning of the house, getting rid of the remaining packages, removing the ashtrays and trying to chase away the smell .
Then, you have to find replacement habits such as moving, playing outside or handling something else with your hands that you can put in your mouth.
“People who quit cold turkey and succeed are much more the exception than the rule,” assures the pharmacist. He adds at the same time that this method can be particularly unpleasant because of the withdrawal effects.
Withdrawal can be eased by using replacement therapies such as gums, lozenges, patches or sprays. These products can now be prescribed directly by a pharmacist.
In the case of vaping, the nicotine industry has tried to pass it off as a smoking cessation tool. But a large number of fans have instead seen their nicotine addiction transpose. We have also observed a very large number of new non-smoking users becoming dependent on electronic cigarettes.
“It’s an evil for another, but less worse,” concedes the pharmacist. Ideally, however, the process should lead to complete abandonment.
Starting today, December 20, people interested in quitting nicotine and participating in the contest giving the chance to win $5,000 can register on the Défitabac.ca platform. A host of materials and tools are available to help participants meet the challenge of not smoking or vaping for six weeks.
The competition will run from February 5 to March 17, 2024.
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