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Tobacco no smoking icon.

Tobacco smoking in adults

Public Resources

Help to quit smoking

Thinking of quitting smoking? 


The Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care has released new evidence-based guidance on the best ways for people to stop smoking*. Find a menu of recommended options (patient-clinician discussion tool) and an infographic to help you quit.

Get healthier.
Stopping smoking can 

  • Improve health and lead to a longer life 
  • Improve mental health and quality of life 
  • Lower the risk of heart disease, stroke and cancer
No smoking symbol

Things you can you do

  • Get advice or information from a doctor, nurse, pharmacist or other health care provider 
  • Get help from individual or group counselling led by a trained counsellor 
  • Try text message-based programs 
  • Use self-help materials 
Illustration of a male patient and female primary care practitioner talking

Medications you can use

  • Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT)
    • the patch, gum, lozenges, inhaler or spray, used alone or together
  • Varenicline 
  • Bupropion 
  • Cytisine
Illustration of a blister pack, pill bottle and nicotine patch

You can also try more than one thing at the same time.

Quitting takes time. Keep trying!

  • People often need to try to quit many times  
  • Trying different options at the same time can help you quit 

Patient infographic

Patient-clinician discussion tool

Illustration of a pack of cigarettes inside of a trash can

Facts about tobacco smoking

  • It’s the #1 cause of preventable disease and death in Canada 
  • Causes lung and other cancers, heart and lung disease and more 
  • Is hard to stop because nicotine is highly addictive 
  • Tobacco has 7000+ chemicals 
Read the guideline

What about e-cigarettes?

  • People who smoke are encouraged to talk to a health care provider about which options may be best for them
  • E-cigarettes may help stop smoking for people who could not quit other ways or who have a strong preference for e-cigarettes
  • People should try other proven treatments FIRST 
  • It is important to know that no e-cigarette is approved for tobacco cessation in Canada, and that there is limited information on long-term safety, such as on lung or heart health
  • Using e-cigarettes does not address nicotine addiction

Want more information?  


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