New Year’s is just around the corner and many people will be contemplating New Year’s resolutions for 2012. If quitting smoking is on your list this year, you may want to find out about the following smoking cessation programs in Toronto.
Quit Smoking by Laser Treatment in Toronto
Smoking is addictive because it releases pleasure-inducing endorphins. Using laser therapy to stop smoking works by stimulating acupuncture points to release endorphins to prevent the physical symptoms of withdrawal that many smokers experience.
- IMD Laser Clinic, 181 Eglinton Ave. E., 416-480-1700, provides a smoking cessation program that includes an initial laser therapy treatment, a second treatment two to three days later, and a third treatment one month later.
- Laser Intervention & Wellness, First Canadian Place, 100 King St. W., Ste. 5700, 416-915-1514, offers a signature smoking cessation program that costs $299. The program includes one 90-minute initial laser session and two 60-minute booster sessions.
- Omega Laser Therapy, 1-866-927-7179, has locations in Toronto (Danforth Ave. & Victoria Park), Richmond Hill, Mississauga, Brampton, Whitby, Oshawa, Kingston, and the Ottawa Civic Hospital. Smoking cessation laser treatment costs $300 plus tax. This price includes the actual treatment, vitamin program, back up support and two additional treatments (if needed). Clients can also add the Weight Management Points program for an additional $100 (plus tax), which includes stimulation of additional acupuncture points to boost metabolism.
Quit Smoking Programs in Ontario
Many people require incentives to stop smoking and the following smoking cessation programs in Toronto do just that:
- Quit and Get Fit, is a co-partnership between the Ontario Lung Association and fitness centres throughout Ontario that offers a free smoking cessation program. The quit smoking program involves a fitness component led by specially-trained personal trainers at select fitness centres in Ontario. Participants do not need to be a member of the fitness centre to participate. Toronto fitness centres participating in the Quit and Get Fit program include GoodLife locations at 85 Hanna Ave. (Liberty Village), 12 St. Clair Ave. E., 1448 Lawrence Ave. E., 280 Coxwell Ave., 105 Gordon Baker Rd., 50 Sheppard Ave. E. and 21 McCaul St. Register for Quit and Get Fit online.
- The Canadian Cancer Society’s Driven to Quit program provides participants who stop smoking on or after January 1, 2012 and who are 19+ the incentive to win a grand prize. Registration opens and the grand prize for 2011 will be revealed on the website on January 3, 2012. Last year’s prize was an SUV.
Quit Smoking Clinics in Toronto
The following smoking cessation clinics in Toronto can provide prescribed medication to stop smoking if required:
- Stop Smoking Clinic, St. Joseph’s Health Centre, Sunnyside Road, Toronto, 416-530-6486 X3969, is an OHIP-covered program operating on a self-referral, out-patient basis that involves individual counselling and pharmacotherapy. Sessions are tailored to individual needs.
- The Nicotine Dependence Clinic is operated by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), 175 College Street, Main Floor, 416-535-8501 X7400. The program provides a two-hour initial assessment, follow up with a doctor who may prescribe patch, inhaler, gum, or other medication, and group workshops on nicotine replacement education.
Stop smoking programs in Toronto and the GTA that provide laser treatments to release endorphins, incentives like new cars or the free use of fitness centres like GoodLife, or individual and group counselling and pharmacotherapy, provide varied methods of quitting smoking to meet individual needs. Only you will know which stop smoking method is right for you.
