I haven't had time to read through all posts, so please forgive me if this topic has already been addressed ...
as per the Ministry of Health Promotion:
"In 2004, the McGuinty government launched the Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy, focusing on public education campaigns, programs and policies aimed at young people to encourage them not to smoke, protection from exposure to second-hand smoke, and programs to help smokers quit."
According to Daulton McGuinty, Ontario residents wishing to quit smoking, now have acces to the following via their local Community Health Centres:
- free NRT's
- free Zyban
- improved access to Smokers Helpline
My partner and I - both on limited incomes, and one of us without prescription drug benefit coverage - were very happy to hear this announcement. Personally, it has always been my view that the money raked in by the government for the sale of cigarettes should be used to help anyone wishing to quit smoking.
I IMMEDIATELY contacted my nearest Community Health Center (CHC). The people there had very little information, except for an instructive e-mail sent to all CHC's in Ontario, by Scott Wolf (not sure what his position is with the OCHC association ... ).
The e-mail instructed employees of the CHC's to give the website "www.stopsutdy.ca"; to anyone calling with inquiries as to McGuinty's announcement.
I did as instructed, visited the web site, signed up for the study, and was issued a "voucher" number to take to my nearest participating pharmacy.
At the pharmacy, I was handed four boxes of nicotine patches and instructed on their use. When asked re. Zyban, the pharmacist had no information whatsoever.
Back home, I called the CHC again to inquire as to how I obtain the Zyban. The CHC employee, reading from Mr. Worf's e-mail, told me that Mr. Wolf suggested directing further inquiries to a woman working for the Ministry of Health Promotions, and gave her (long distance) phone number.
The phone number was a wrong number - this was confirmed with the CHC employee. This employee then gave me Mr. Wolf's phone number.
I called Mr. Wolf's number and left voice mail .. he did not respond.
I contacted dozens and dozens of organizations, every liberl MP on Ontario (via e-mail), and even the Smokers Helpline (unbelievably, they had no idea how I could obtain the free Zyban offered by the government). I have had no response whatsoever, and my frustration is building. Our quit date is June 6th, and I was hoping to have as many helpful aids as possible at my disposal.
If anyone here has any idea how we are to go about obtaining this "free" Zyban (such a generous offer, by the way ... telling us they're giving us this drug for free, when we've already paid for it via our taxes??!) ... please let me know.
Thanks for listening to my rant, fuelled by growing anxiety as the days to quit day approach ...