Quitting Smoking

Get Free Help

Every resident in Niagara can
access free help to quit smoking

Contact the Tobacco Hotline

Free help to quit or reduce your smoking

  • Mailed quit smoking programs with free nicotine replacement therapy

    STOP on the Net Program

    Get six weeks of free nicotine replacement therapy, which includes participant's choice of nicotine patches, nicotine gum or lozenges.

    To be eligible, you must:

    • Live in Ontario
    • Be 18 years or older
    • Be smoking cigarettes at time of registration
    • Have an email address to register

    This program is online. Patches and gum / lozenges are mailed to you.

    Ottawa Heart Smoking Cessation Program

    Get six weeks of free patches and nicotine lozenges, and behavioural counselling from a health care provider.

    To be eligible, you must:

    • Live in Ontario
    • Be 18 years or older
    • Be smoking cigarettes at time of registration

    To register, call 1-888-645-5405 and leave your contact information on the voicemail.

  • Patients of a family health team

    You can access free nicotine replacement therapy as a rostered patient of the following family health teams:

    • Welland McMaster - 905-734-9699 ext. 3
    • Niagara North
      • St. Catharines - 905-988-9617 ext. 226
      • Niagara-on-the-Lake - 905-468-2177 ext. 130
    • Beamsville Medical Centre - 905-563-5315
    • Portage Medical - 905-354-9393
    • Smithville - 905-957-3328
  • Patients of a community health centre

    You can access free nicotine replacement therapy as a rostered patient of the following community health centres:

    • Quest Community Health Centre (St. Catharines - rostered patients) - 905-688-2558 ext. 243
    • Niagara Falls Community Health Centre (Niagara Falls - rostered patients) - 905-356-4222 ext. 233
    • Bridges Community Health Centre (Fort Erie and Port Colborne - rostered patients)
      • Fort Erie - 905-871-7621 ext. 2226
      • Port Colborne - 289-479-5017 ext. 2421
  • French-speaking residents

    Centre de santé communautaire Hamilton / Niagara

    You can access free nicotine replacement therapy through the Centre de santé communautaire Hamilton / Niagara at 905-714-9935 ext. 2239.

    Smokers' Helpline - Talk Tobacco

    Access a free, confidential telephone service offering culturally appropriate support and information about quitting smoking, vaping and commercial tobacco use. The Talk Tobacco phone service is available in Ontario by calling 1-833-998-8255. Interpreter services are available in French and 14 Indigenous languages.

  • Heart Niagara

    You may be eligible to receive free nicotine replacement therapy (nicotine patch, gum, lozenge or inhaler). Call 905-358-5552.

  • Champix or Zyban

    If you have an Ontario Drug Benefit card, you're eligible to receive support from your local pharmacist and access to free quit smoking medications (Champix or Zyban). Talk to your local pharmacist for more information.

    Those enrolled in the Trillium Drug Program, may be eligible for coverage on prescription medication for smoking cessation.

  • Counselling and support

    Don't Quit Quitting | Online Tool to Help Smokers Quit

    Don't Quit Quitting provides tips, tricks and facts to guide you through your quit journey. Use the Quit Calculator to see how much money you can save. Quitting is hard, but you don’t have to do it alone. The more support you get, the better your chances of success.

    Quit with Confidence: Guide to a Smoke-Free Life

    Quit with Confidence is a self-paced resource that supports you along your quit journey and equips you with the knowledge and skills to quit smoking with confidence. The modules provide guidance on deciding to quit, how to quit and life after quitting, and resources to support helping someone else quit.

    Health811

    Health811 provides counselling support over the phone if you're quitting smoking. Call a Quit Coach at 811 for smoking cessation supports 24/7.

    Smokers' Helpline

    Get supports from Smokers' Helpline digital services, including online chat, text message and email support.

    Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

    Get an evidence-based booklet and app that can help you quit smoking. Download the My Change Plan booklet or the My Change Plan app from Google Play or the Apple Store.

    OHIP+ plan

    The OHIP+ plan may provide quit smoking support if you're not covered by a private plan. Support includes up to a year of pharmacist-assisted counselling. Talk to your pharmacist or health care provider. It may also include no-cost smoking cessation prescriptions if you're 18 years or older.

    Quash

    Download a free interactive mobile app to help you quit smoking. Created by the Lung Health Foundation.

  • Quit vaping support

    Youth VAST program

    For youth ages 12 to 21 in Ontario who want to quit vaping. In-person and online appointments are available. Free nicotine replacement therapy may be provided if eligible. Individuals can refer directly to the program.

    Quash

    A free vaping / smoking quit app for ages 14 to 30. It focuses on behaviour change strategies to help young people cut down or quit the way they want to.

    Stop Vaping Challenge

    A free quit vaping app youth can use with friends. Users can earn badges, challenge friends and track cravings.

    Crush the Crave

    A free app with supportive messages, virtual awards and help for dealing with vape cravings. Track how many days you stay vape-free, money saved and triggers.

    Not an Experiment - Quit Plan

    A free online quit plan that can be printed and fits in a pocket, wallet or backpack. Youth can complete the quit plan online and print it or use a booklet to complete it by hand.

    I Quit for Me (Health Canada)

    A guide to help youth ages 14 to 18 quit smoking and / or vaping. Written for youth, it's available in digital and print formats and can be used on their own or as part of a group program.

    Smokers' Helpline

    Offers online resources and a texting program for those looking to quit vaping, smoking or both. To join, text 'iQuit' to 123456.

  • Indigenous communities

    Smokers' Helpline - Talk Tobacco

    Access a free, confidential telephone service offering culturally appropriate support and information about quitting smoking, vaping and commercial tobacco use. The Talk Tobacco phone service is available in Ontario by calling 1-833-998-8255. Interpreter services are available in French and 14 Indigenous languages.

    Non-insured health benefits for First Nations and Inuit

    Eligible First Nations and Inuit persons have coverage for nicotine replacement therapy and prescriptions medications. For more information, talk to your health care provider or call 1-800-640-0642.

  • Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program

    People receiving Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Program are encouraged to speak to their case worker to learn about their eligibility for no-cost nicotine replacement therapy and supports.

  • 2SLGBTQ+

    Expand Project: Helping you quit

    Queer and trans young people aged 18-29 in Ontario can get a free four-week trial pack of nicotine replacement therapy mailed to them. Choose from patches, mist, lozenge or gum. You can access counselling support from a certified quit coach through this program.

Tobacco hotline

If you're not eligible for any of the above programs, contact the Tobacco Hotline at 905-688-8248 ext. 7393.

Contact us

For information on quitting smoking, the law or second-hand smoke, email the Tobacco Hotline or call 905-688-8248 ext. 7393 or 1-888-505-6074 ext. 7393

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