Tobacco Smoking in Adults—Patient-Clinician Discussion Tool

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You can have a smoke-free life!

Quitting smoking lowers your risk of serious illnesses like heart problems, strokes, and cancer. When you quit smoking, you are making a choice to be healthier and live longer
Quitting takes time. It is normal to try a few times before you stop for good
Many ways to quit exist; you may need to try a few. Talk to your health care provider for help finding the best option or combination of options for you

What can support your choice to quit smoking?	Description	Pros ✅ and Cons ❌
Counselling	Options include: Primary care provider advice Individual or group counselling in person or by telephone from a trained counsellor Mobile phone text messaging interventions Self-help materials	✅ Pros: Provincial and territorial health care systems, as well as employee health benefits, cover the costs of certain counselling services
Counselling		❌ Cons: Online-only options (like self-help guides) without professional support are not recommended Access to trained counsellors may be limited
Medication	Options include: Prescription medicines like varenicline or bupropion which help manage tobacco cravings Nicotine Replacement Therapies (NRTs) such as the patch, gum, lozenges, inhaler or spray). All can be used alone or in combination and are available over the counter Cytisine is a natural product that helps you want to smoke less. You can buy it without a prescription	✅ Pros: Medications can lower smoking pleasure and reduce nicotine withdrawal symptoms Every province and territory has coverage or rebate programmes for medication options, including NRTs
Medication		❌ Cons: Medication may cause side effects such as nausea, restlessness, insomnia, irritability. Nicotine patches can cause skin irritation
Combination of counselling & medication	Options include: Combining Counselling NRTs Bupropion or varenicline or cytisine	✅ Pros: Counselling gives you guidance and support and medication can help manage cravings
Combination of counselling & medication		❌ Cons: Not all counselling options and medical treatments are available, and insurance does not always cover the expenses

What about e-cigarettes?

E-cigarettes may be used to help stop smoking tobacco cigarettes
People should try other proven treatments FIRST
E-cigarettes can help some people who could not quit other ways or who have a strong preference
Know that e-cigarettes may have unknown negative health effects and there is no long-term safety information
Don’t use them longer than you need to quit

What about nicotine pouches?

The Task Force did not study if nicotine pouches are effective for quitting smoking
More research on the pouches’ effectiveness in helping adult smokers quit is needed
We suggest trying one of the proven options above to quit smoking

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Recommendations do not apply to traditional or ceremonial tobacco use by Indigenous groups or to pregnant or breast/chest-feeding people.