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Tobacco misuse
It’s simple and convenient to pick up your nicotine replacement therapy, varenicline and bupropion from NX Pharmacies
Renew your prescription for tobacco cessation meds like varenicline and bupropion.
Quit smoking with the support of NX Pharmacies’ tobacco cessation services, including advice on the best way to use nicotine replacement patches and nicotine gum.
When you’re ready to quit smoking cigarettes or using tobacco, NX Pharmacies is here for you. We can offer nicotine cessation products, advice and services that will help you to beat the cravings.
No need to stop smoking alone: let us support your willpower as you overcome a physical addiction to nicotine.
Please note: we recognize that indigenous peoples have a sacred relationship with traditional tobacco. This text is about giving up recreational and/or habitual use of commercial tobacco in the form of cigarettes and cigars, pipes, waterpipes and smokeless tobacco, spit or chewing tobacco.
What is a stop-smoking service?
Smoking cessation products and services are designed to help you stop habitual, recreational use of commercial tobacco.
Recreational use of commercial tobacco includes:
- smoking cigarettes, pipes, cigars and bidi
- using a water pipe, hookah or shisha
- chewing tobacco, spit tobacco, snuff, paan and betel
Using tobacco in these ways is addictive, which means that once it becomes a habit, it is very hard to stop. Tobacco use is one of Canada’s leading risks for premature death and morbidity, and quitting smoking will improve your health and wellbeing.
Smoking tobacco also harms others who are exposed to second-hand smoke. So your doctor will advise you to quit smoking, particularly if you have a health condition such as diabetes, asthma, COPD or cardiovascular disease.
People want to stop smoking for all sorts of reasons, but even very motivated people often need support to help them quit tobacco and maintain a smoke-free life.
Smoking is a physical and psychological addiction for many people, and this makes it difficult to stop using tobacco. The addictive component of cigarettes and other forms of tobacco is nicotine. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, nicotine use causes changes to the brain so that the body becomes used to having nicotine and to the actions and sensations associated with smoking and tobacco. If a person who is nicotine dependent tries to stop taking nicotine, they get withdrawal symptoms like depression, anxiety and irritability.
Other people use smoking to get past negative feelings like anxiety or loneliness. Some people feel smoking keeps them focused on their work. Others believe it suppresses their appetite so they don’t gain weight. These can also make it harder for people to quit nicotine and smoking.
A lot of former smokers relapse and start smoking again after they have quit, and they may need to try many times before they can quit tobacco completely. Quitting tobacco is difficult for many people, but there are plenty of smoking cessation services and products to help you stop smoking.
NX Pharmacies can fill your prescription for tobacco misuse drugs and send your meds straight to your home.
Why quit smoking and tobacco use?
There are many health conditions, include diabetes, asthma and cardiovascular disease, that are made worse by smoking tobacco. So when you get a diagnosis, your healthcare team will recommend that you stop smoking as soon as you can.
People who are trying to conceive or expecting a baby are advised to quit smoking because tobacco use and second-hand smoke can harm the fetus
Other people want to quit smoking because someone they live with or care about has a health condition, such as asthma.
Chewing tobacco and other forms of smokeless tobacco do not produce smoke, but it can cause oral health problems and is linked to certain types of cancer.
Vaping is used by some people with a nicotine addiction, but not much is known about its long-term effects.
Tobacco misuse makes you sick
Tobacco use is one of Canada’s leading risks for premature death and morbidity. It increases your chances of becoming ill from cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and strokes. According to the non-profit Heart and Stroke Canada, Canadians who smoke are twice as likely to have a heart attack or stroke; and twice as likely to die from it.
Smoking is also linked to the eye disease age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which causes central vision loss and is the leading cause of blindness in older adults in the developed world. Health Canada says that smokers are two to three times more likely to develop AMD than people who have never smoked.
Canadians who smoke are also more likely to suffer from the lung condition chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to Health Canada. Smoking is linked to almost 80% of deaths from COPD. The risk of dying from lung disease reduces the longer you maintain a smoke-free lifestyle.
Smoking harms others
The smoke from your cigarette will be breathed in by other people around you, including small children and babies. This is known as second-hand smoke.
Babies exposed to second-hand smoke are at greater risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). They are also more likely to get more illnesses than babies not exposed to second-hand smoke, including:
- wheezing and coughing
- ear infections
- chronic lung disease in later life
- asthma
Learn more about the effects of second-hand smoke from The Canadian Cancer Society.
Tobacco is expensive
A smoking habit is costly, and if you use Health Canada’s cigarette cost calculator you can see just how much money you could have available to spend on other things if you stopped smoking.
Methods of quitting smoking and tobacco use
The good news is, despite its addictive properties, it is possible to quit smoking. Everyone’s journey toward a smoke-free life is different, so there are many products and services available to help you when you are ready to stop using tobacco.
You can access a quit-smoking coach, get advice from your doctor or talk to a pharmacist about your plan to stop smoking. They can work with you to set targets that will help you to stop smoking and give you access to nicotine replacement therapy. Your doctor can prescribe medications to help you manage cravings for cigarettes, increasing your chances of maintaining a tobacco-free lifestyle.
What help is there available for quitting smoking near me?
You can consult one of our pharmacists to find out how NX Pharmacies can help you live smoke free.
Every province and territory has a tobacco quit service that you can access for free. You can talk with a trained quit-smoking counsellor. They will help you put together a plan for stopping tobacco misuse and help you access quit-smoking services near where you live.
The Government of Canada has a directory of provincial and territorial quit-smoking services that is a good starting point.
Talk Tobacco is a service specifically designed for First Nations, Inuit and Métis people who want to quit smoking commercial tobacco.
What products and services are there to help me stop using tobacco?
Quitting tobacco once you are dependent on nicotine is not always easy, but there is a range of products and services that will support you.
- nicotine replacement
- medication to help with cravings for tobacco
- stop-smoking coaching or counselling
You are more likely to be successful at quitting smoking if you use a stop-smoking support service alongside your nicotine replacement therapy and/or stop-smoking meds. You may need to try more than once to quit smoking.
Quitting smoking with nicotine replacement therapy and stop-smoking medication
It is usual for people quitting smoking to try nicotine replacement therapy. If this does not ease withdrawal symptoms, your doctor can prescribe stop-smoking meds to help reduce your cravings.
Nicotine replacement therapy
Nicotine is the addictive component of tobacco. Nicotine replacement therapy gives a controlled amount of nicotine in a way that is much less harmful to your health than smoking or chewing tobacco. It allows you to reduce the amount of nicotine you are taking so that you can avoid nicotine withdrawal symptoms that may tempt you to start smoking again.
You can get nicotine replacement therapy without a prescription.
Nicotine replacement therapy comes in the form of a patch that you stick on your skin. Patch nicotine replacement therapy is slow acting, and the patch is worn most of the time.
Smoking cessation experts recommend using the slow-acting nicotine replacement patch in combination with another fast-acting method. For example:
- gum
- an inhaler
- lozenges
- tablets
- sprays
These fast-acting nicotine replacement therapies are used to manage cravings.
Nicotine replacement therapy normally takes eight to 12 weeks, and you complete it by gradually reducing the dose until you can stop taking it.
Oral medications that will help with quitting smoking
When nicotine replacement therapy does not work, your doctor will prescribe tobacco cessation medications. NX Pharmacies can fill your prescription for stop-smoking meds. Drugs that reduce your cravings for nicotine include varenicline and bupropion.
Varenicline reduces the physical effects of nicotine, so you don’t get the surge of endorphins (feel good chemicals released by the body) when you use nicotine. Varenicline works best alongside nicotine replacement therapy, like patches and gum.
Bupropion reduces the withdrawal effects as you start to use less nicotine.
How do I get medications to help me quit smoking?
Nicotine replacement therapy products like gum, lozenges and patches are available over the counter in pharmacies like NX Pharmacies.
In Canada you can depend on NX Pharmacies for your varenicline and bupropion. We serve all areas of Canada and can fill your prescription of tobacco cessation meds. We can help with renewals and refills. Our discretion is assured, and you can depend on us for authentic Health Canada-approved medications.
Even if you’ve quit smoking for a while before, you can benefit from the support of a doctor or pharmacist this time. Professional help will make quitting smoking easier.
If your stop-smoking meds stop working, or you start to get uncomfortable side-effects, ask for a medicines review. Your pharmacist may also be able to advise on managing side-effects of your nicotine craving meds.
Stop-smoking coaching
A counselling service tailored for people wanting to quit smoking or tobacco can increase your chances of success in your mission to go smoke free. Your quit-smoking coach can help you cope with cravings for tobacco, plan for difficult situations like parties and manage set-backs in your quitting smoking journey.
What products and services are there to help young people and kids quit smoking?
Stop-smoking meds may not be suitable for people under the age of 18. There are tobacco cessation services tailored to the needs of children and young people which you can access locally. Health Canada has a smoking cessation handbook titled Quit4Life written for teenagers which explains how smoking and tobacco addiction work, and gives information about quitting.
Health Canada also has a tip sheet for parents who need to talk with their teen about vaping.
How do I quit smoking if I am pregnant?
Many people gain a strong motivation to stop smoking when they become pregnant. There are quit-smoking services tailored to the needs of pregnant people and people who are breastfeeding, and your maternity care team can recommend one. Getting help from a stop-smoking scheme will increase your chances of successfully quitting smoking during pregnancy.
- Where can I get information about the effects on smoking on my health?
- Where can I learn more about quitting tobacco?
- Is smokeless tobacco safer than smoking cigarettes and cigars?
- Can vaping and e-cigarettes help with quitting smoking?
- How can I help someone quit smoking?
- Where can I buy authentic Canadian medications to stop my tobacco cravings?
- What is the best price online for stop smoking drugs?
- How long do nicotine withdrawal symptoms last?
- How do I set up a new prescription with NX Pharmacies for meds to help me quit smoking?
- How can I refill my prescription for tobacco cessation drugs with NX Pharmacies?
- How will you ship my stop-smoking meds?
Where can I get information about the effects on smoking on my health?
Heart and Stroke Canada describes how quitting smoking will decrease your risk of heart attack and stroke.
Diabetes Canada has a fact sheet that explains why smoking is bad for people with diabetes.
The Canadian Cancer Society has information about how quitting smoking reduces your risk of getting cancer.
Where can I learn more about quitting tobacco?
If you are wondering whether the time is right for you to stop smoking, check out the national campaign, Smoke Free Curious.
To find stop-smoking support in your area, see Health Canada’s list of provincial and territorial quit-smoking services.
Is smokeless tobacco safer than smoking cigarettes and cigars?
According to the Canadian Cancer Society, smokeless tobacco such as chewing tobacco and snuff are linked to oral cancer, cancer of the esophagus (food pipe) and pancreatic cancer. It is also addictive, like other forms of tobacco and that makes it very difficult to stop using smokeless tobacco, even if you want to.
Can vaping and e-cigarettes help with quitting smoking?
There is a lack of research about quitting smoking with vaping and e-cigarettes, but Health Canada says there may be links to improved rates of success at using vaping to quit smoking. It says that vaping is less harmful than smoking cigarettes because there is less exposure to chemicals that impact your health. But vaping still delivers addictive nicotine and you can become nicotine dependent when vaping.
How can I help someone quit smoking?
It is very difficult to force someone to quit smoking before they want to. Some smokers will be motivated by their loved ones voicing their concerns, or if they are educated about the negative effects of second-hand smoke on people they care for.
There are plenty of ways in which you can help someone who is ready to quit smoking, from sharing information to being understanding of their moods, to listening when they want emotional support.
Where can I buy authentic Canadian medications to stop my tobacco cravings?
To be sure you are treating your nicotine cravings with genuine, non-counterfeit medications, get a prescription for your stop-smoking meds from your doctor and then fill it at a licensed pharmacy, such as NX Pharmacies. For more advice on avoiding counterfeit drugs, see The Government of Canada’s information about counterfeit prescription drugs.
How long do nicotine withdrawal symptoms last?
Nicotine withdrawal symptoms start within hours of the final cigarette. They tend to peak within a few days and subside after a few weeks. Some people get withdrawal symptoms for months after the last cigarette. Using nicotine replacement therapy can help reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms.