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A Quit Smoking 2000 Contest, organized by the Council For A Tobacco- Free Ontario and sponsored by local public health departments across province, will be launched during National Non-Smoking Week (January 16th - 22nd , 2000). To be eligible for a draw for prizes, smokers must quit by March 1st and remain smoke free until April 3rd. A buddy support system is built into the contest as research shows how effective this is to a smoker's success in quitting.

Launching the program in January gives people a chance to think about quitting and move to the stage of actually quitting. If a smoker can stop smoking for even a month, then quitting forever won't seem so impossible.

"This contest is great news," says Linda Rix, chair of the Niagara Council on Smoking and Health. "It is hard to quit smoking. You can't automatically expect to be successful on the first try. But each time you try, you are a step closer to success".

"Look around and you'll see people who smoked but tried to quit once, twice or even five times. They didn't stop trying and now they are non-smokers. No matter how heavy a smoker you are, or how many years you have smoked, if you keep trying you can succeed", she added.

Research shows that quitting comes in steps - thinking about it, getting ready, doing it, and remaining smoke-free. "The length of time someone stays at each stage is entirely personal," says Rix. "While you can't be forced along by anyone else, encouragement and other incentives do work to help a person choose to move to the next stage".

Prizes awarded provincially include a Caribbean cruise for two, a diamond necklace, three Sony TV/VCR sets, and a three-day getaway weekend with $500 spending money. Winners' buddies will each receive $250.

Information on how to quit smoking is available at no charge through the Regional Niagara Public Health Department Tobacco Hotline/Info Tabac. Contest information, entry forms, and posters are available by calling the hotline at 688-3762 or 1-800-263-7248, extension 393. Or visit our website at www.regional.niagara.on.ca/departments/health/chrdisprv.html