Smoking and commercial tobacco reduction

NH is a smoke-free organization. Even in outdoor spaces smoke and vapour is harmful to others.

Smoking of commercial tobacco, cannabis, or any other substances is prohibited in or on all NH owned and/or operated premises, facilities, grounds, and corporately owned or leased vehicles.

The use of vapour dispensing devices (also known as e-cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, vapes, vaporizers or electronic nicotine delivery devices) is prohibited in or on all NH owned and/or operated premises, facilities, grounds, and corporately owned or leased vehicles.

• Please protect others from smoke and vapour
• Consider using nicotine patches, gum, lozenges or inhalers to manage your cravings instead of smoking on NH grounds
• Consider leaving the perimeter of NH grounds while smoking or vaping

Protect our patients, their family and friends, and staff from smoke and vapour.

Northern Health supports cultural and ceremonial use of smoke, tobacco and other legal sacred plants and recognizes that the benefits of traditional and spiritual uses can outweigh the potential harms. There is a difference between tobacco misuse and traditional tobacco use. Cultural, spiritual, and ceremonial uses of smoke, tobacco and other legal sacred plants within NH facilities will be facilitated in respectful, culturally safe, and supportive ways.

Where can people smoke?

People who wish to smoke must leave Northern Health grounds.

E-cigarettes don’t produce real smoke. Why are they included?

While e-cigarettes do not produce smoke, they do produce a vapour that is inhaled by people using them and by those around them. The vapour contains a variety of chemical components depending on the particular products being used. The safety and long-term effects of inhaling e-cigarette vapour have not been established.

Are you concerned about your health because you use commercial tobacco?

For help quitting smoking visit quitnow.ca or call Health Link 8-1-1

Access information and FREE nicotine patches, gum, lozenges or inhalers through the BC Smoking Cessation program. Visit your pharmacy to access these products. You may be eligible for assistance to purchase smoking cessation medications.

• Ask
• Advise
• Assist

All patients will be asked about commercial tobacco use at every hospital and clinic visit, advised to quit and linked to tobacco cessation services.

Commercial tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable disease, disability and death and it is important to encourage tobacco users to quit.

If you are interested in quitting smoking visit quitnow.ca or call 1-877-455-2233

All patients will be assessed for commercial tobacco use upon admission to Northern Health facilities.

If the patient has used commercial tobacco in the last 7 days or may be experiencing nicotine withdrawal, nicotine replacement therapy will be offered to provide comfort and reduce cravings.

When patients go home they can access free Nicotine Replacement Therapy through the BC Smoking Cessation program.