Media advisory - More than 60,000 fewer smokers in Quebec with the Quit to Win! Challenge

ACTI-MENU launches the 14^th edition of this important campaign

MONTREAL, Jan. 7, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - In Quebec, 1.5 million people smoke, and more than half of them (60%) want to free themselves from tobacco. The Quit to Win! Challenge is back for a 14^th year in order to help smokers and to invite them to commit to not smoke for at least 6 weeks, between March 1 and April 11, 2013.

The Challenge is a renowned, tried-and-true approach. On average, 2 out of 3 participants succeed in not smoking during the 6 weeks of the Challenge. A year later, nearly 20% of the adult participants are still non-smokers, which is much higher than the cessation rate of people who quit smoking without having recourse to an assistance method (3 to 5%). It is estimated that over 60,000 Quebecers have become non-smokers by participating in the Challenge in the past.

WHAT?		The launch of the 14th Quit to Win! Challenge by ACTI-MENU
WHEN?		Tuesday, January 8, 2013
		at 10:30 a.m.
WHERE?		Auditorium of the Montreal Heart Institute
		5000 Bélanger, Montreal
HOW?		Meeting with the press followed by individual interviews (from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.):

• Dr. Horacio Arruda, National Director of the Public Health and Assistant Deputy Minister of Public Health, MSSS;
• Dr. Richard Massé, Director of Public Health at the Agence de  la santé et des services sociaux de Montréal;
• Dr. Martin Juneau, cardiologist, director of prevention at the Montreal Heart Institute and co-president of ACTI-MENU;
• Dr. Roxane Néron, general practionner and spokesperson for the Quit to Win! Challenge;
• A participant in the 2012 Challenge, who has not smoked for a year now, and a smoker who is getting ready to register for the 2013 Challenge.

Information: quitchallenge.ca

SOURCE: ACTI-MENU

Information and interview coordination:
André Beaulieu communication
514 393-3444 - [email protected]