It may have taken Paul Creasey most of his adult life, but he has finally puffed on his last cigarette.
Creasey finally kicked the habit after he started the Drive to Quit contest. The health promotion campaigned aimed to encourage Ontario smokers and tobacco users to quit for the month of March.
More than 36,000 Ontarians participated in the challenge in 2011.
For the past 38 years, Creasey said he couldn’t get up in the morning without having a couple of cigarettes.
“I would have a cigarette before I put my clothes on, have another one when the coffee was being made and another four or five before my first cup,” Creasey said.
“Some people can quit cold turkey. I personally find that really difficult but I take it one day at a time. 30 days is a good beginning.”
Having a smoke constantly took its toll on Creasey. He said he had constant bronchitis, lung infections and other health problems. He turned to websites for help as well as calling the Smoker’s Helpline.
He added winning a Ford Fusion hybrid is a good motivator to quit smoking.
Simon Hoad, senior co-ordinator of Smoker’s Helpline, said in Thunder Bay, about 22 per cent of the population smokes, four per cent higher than the Ontario average. Hoad said only 11 per cent of tobacco users are daily smokers and the numbers are going down.
“We still have a long way to go,” Hoad said.
“Unfortunately, in Northwestern Ontario, we work hard, we play hard and unfortunately some people smoke hard. We know that multiple quit attempts are necessary for people and that’s what the driven to quit program does.”
Those interested in entering the contest must first sign up with a buddy and must prove they were tobacco free through the month of March in April.
