A northern Ontario doctor has received funding to explore options to expand access to smoking cessation interventions in our region.
Northern Ontario School of Medicine University and Lakehead University joint faculty member, Dr. Patricia Smith, has received $302,413 from the federal government to carry out the work.
Dr. Smith says her work will centre on priority populations.
“There are subgroups of the population that have disproportionately high rates of smoking, which puts them at increased risk of serious health conditions.”
She notes few people use behavioural smoking cessation programs, often because there is no access to programs or the services don’t meet people’s needs.
Dr. Smith says this project will explore what people’s needs are and what services exist to match those needs.
The funding is part of a government plan to reduce tobacco use to 5 per cent by the year 2035.
