A local pharmacy is working with smokers to help them quit, thanks to a provincial social impact bond.
The Government of Manitoba, Pharmacists Manitoba and Shoppers Drug Mart partnered in April 2022 to create the Quit Smoking with your Manitoba Pharmacist campaign.
Currently, more than 220,000 Manitobans smoke. Smoking deposits tar in the lungs, which contains carcinogens and encourages the development of cancer. The tar also damages lungs by narrowing the bronchioles that absorb oxygen and ridding the cilia that protect the lungs from infection.
When smoking, carbon monoxide takes the place of oxygen in the blood, which forces the heart to work faster and harder, impacting proper heart and lung function. The lack of oxygen in cells also leads to heart disease and stroke. There are countless other effects smoking has on the body.
The program is the province’s first health-related social impact bond and is projected to assist up to 4,500 people in kicking the habit. More than 500 pharmacies across the province are trained in smoking cessation tools and supports, one of them being BenefitsRx in Carman.
Carmen Fotheringham, pharmacy manager, said there are a handful of people enrolled in the program at BenefitsRx and they have definitely seen success thus far.
“Cigarette smoking is a major cause of disease and the leading preventable cause of death,” she said. “In addition to the effect on health, smoking has a psychological, emotional and financial impact. The costs of smoking, to the individual and their health, and to our health-care system as a whole are significant.”
Fotheringham added the campaign is important because it focuses on prevention rather than treatment.
“We support it at BenefitsRx Pharmacy because we realize, as pharmacists, we are the most accessible health care professional and have many opportunities to talk with patients and provide support in their smoking cessation journey,” she said.
The program’s success is measured by the number of people who participate, quit smoking for at least 12 months and continue to stay away from nicotine for two years. Shoppers Drug Mart invested $2 million into the program.
The provincial government said if outcomes are met or exceeded, the company will receive $2.12 million in return. It runs from April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2025, or until the maximum number of people have enrolled.
Essentially, Quit Smoking with your Manitoba Pharmacist makes it easy for smokers to access resources to help them quit. Any smoker over 18-years-old can take part in the program as long as they have a valid Manitoba Health Card and are motivated to quit. They’ll have an initial assessment with their pharmacist, up to nine follow-up counselling sessions, and up to $100 worth of medications and nicotine replacements over one year.
To get involved, people can find a local pharmacy offering the program at www.quitsmokingmb.ca/participatingpharmacies. There is no cost to participate.
“Besides offering our knowledge and support, we have access to many other resources,” said Fotheringham. “This includes contact information for local support groups, numbers to helplines, links to smoking cessation apps, and many worksheets and information to be taken home.”
Darren Murphy of Pharmacists Manitoba said evidence shows that when combined with counselling and medications, people have a better chance of quitting smoking for good.
Along with helping Manitobans to quit smoking, the social impact bond is projected to save the healthcare system more than $1 million a year.
