A Comprehensive Approach to Smoking Cessation in the Workplace Start Living Healthier

Smoking and Human Health Smoking – An Addiction to Nicotine Why Consider Stopping Smoking? Why Should Unions Support Stop Smoking Programs in the Workplace? What Supports Can be Provided in the Workplace and What is Ideal? How Can Unions Support and Promote Stop Smoking Programs in the Workplace? Start Living Healthier

Background & Rationale Start Living Healthier

Background & Rationale Cessation therapy and counselling is the most cost effective health intervention that an employer can provide. Data on the impact of smoking on workplace health and productivity was limited. Nicotine therapies were initially seen as magic bullets to smoking cessation. Access and evidence to support cessation counselling were not available. The effect of smoking on workplace health and productivity is currently well documented. Start Living Healthier

Smoking and Human Health Start Living Healthier

Smoking and Human Health “Canada has no choice but to adopt a new model of health care, a business model that encompasses both preventing and managing chronic disease.” (Conference Board of Canada) Smoking is a major contributor to several chronic diseases:  Cardiovascular disease, including stroke, heart attack, etc.  Cancer  Emphysema/chronic obstructive pulmonary disease  Diabetes Smoking affects every system in the body ‘Smoke goes where blood flows!’ Start Living Healthier

Smoking and Human Health Tobacco Users are:  Six and a half times more likely to die from lung cancer than non-smokers  At double the risk for a stroke  At three times the risk to die from heart attack, than non-smokers In Canada, smoking accounts for a large percentage of deaths:  87% of lung cancer deaths – lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths for both Canadian men and women  30% of all cancer deaths  21% of all coronary heart disease deaths  10% of all infant deaths Start Living Healthier

Smoking Rates by Occupation in Canada Start Living Healthier

Smoking and Human Health Tobacco is the only legally available consumer product which kills people when used entirely as intended. World Health Organization Start Living Healthier

Smoking – An Addiction to Nicotine Start Living Healthier

Nicotine Withdrawal 8:00 am - Had a cigarette 10:00 am - Experiencing withdrawal 12:00 pm - Reaching peak withdrawal Start Living Healthier

PHYSICAL BEHAVIOURAL EMOTIONALPSYCHOLOGICAL

Smoking Cessation… Myths and Misconceptions “Most smokers do not want to stop smoking”  FALSE! 91% of people who smoke have at least some desire to quit smoking and over half are seriously considering quitting within the next 6 months “You just need willpower to stop smoking”  FALSE! Nicotine addiction is a complex addiction (a chronic relapsing condition). Supports, such as counselling and medication, are effective tools to help stop smoking Start Living Healthier

Smoking Cessation… Myths and Misconceptions “Stopping smoking is a one time event”  FALSE! It takes an average of 4-5 attempts to stop completely. Each stop attempt has proven health benefits “If you relapse, you’ve failed at your attempt to stop smoking”  FALSE! Stopping smoking is a process, not an event. Each ‘attempt’ should be considered a success and the employer should never stop supporting the process Start Living Healthier

Smoking Cessation… Myths and Misconceptions “Stop smoking programs only benefits the smoker”  FALSE! Non-smokers who work in smoke filled/exposed environments inhale the same 4000 toxic and carcinogenic chemicals as smokers. Cigarettes produce 12 minutes of smoke, and the smoker inhales only 30 seconds of smoke. The rest lingers in the air – and affects all who are exposed Start Living Healthier

Why Should Union Members Consider Stop Smoking Programs? Start Living Healthier

Blood pressure & pulse return to normal Oxygen levels return to normal Risk of heart attack begin to decrease Sense of taste & smell improve 20 Minutes 8 Hours 24 Hours 48 Hours Start Living Healthier

Improvements in lung function and circulation Risk of heart disease is reduced by 1/2 Risk of lung cancer is reduced by 1/2 Lungs improve capacity to clear & reduce infection Risk of stroke is reduced Risk of heart disease is similar to a person who never smoked 2 Weeks 9 Months 1 Year 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years Start Living Healthier

Based on 1 pack per day, $10 per pack Stop Smoking Support Cost Savings

With the money saved after 1 year… 146 DVDs Half a year of groceries 122 tanks of gas Half semester of tuition 12 ipods 50’’ plasma big screen TV 1 family trip down south Start Living Healthier

Why Should Unions Support Stop Smoking Programs in the Workplace? Start Living Healthier

Why Help? Unions can be a champion in promoting and advocating for the health of its members (smokers and non-smokers alike) Stop smoking programs could be one of the most effective supports Member smoking affects union contract negotiations as employers seek to offset the costs associated with smoking (e.g., sick days, insurance) Start Living Healthier

Why Help? Smoking Cessation is Challenging:  Many union members face work stresses and use nicotine to cope  Workplaces that permit smoking on site makes stopping smoking especially difficult  Some members hold multiple jobs, do shift work, or have transportation challenges and therefore can only access stop smoking support when held on-site, during multiple shifts or via telephone  Second hand smoke can causes health risks for non-smoking members Start Living Healthier

Impact on Members Start Living Healthier Smoking Union Member Poor Health Increased Insurance Premiums Social Stigma Less Disposable Income (used on cigarettes)

What Supports can be Provided in the Workplace and What is Ideal? Start Living Healthier

Range of Smoking Cessation Programs/Supports Comprehensive (greatest impact!)  Offering programs, supports and activities at the workplace (on-site, during work hours, etc.) Facilitated  Working with outside agencies to deliver programs, supports and activities off-site and providing self-help materials Education & Information  Provision of educational self-help materials Start Living Healthier

Success Only 2.5-5% of smokers who attempt to quit unaided will succeed Without support, smoking cessation is challenging for employees. Start Living Healthier

Success Medication and intense face-to-face counselling increases success The provision of workplace support will empower employees to work towards reaching their cessation goals. Telephone counselling + medication increases success Start Living Healthier Compared to no support, face-to-face counselling increases success Telephone counselling + one session face-to-face counselling increases success Smoking cessation medication triples long-term success NRT doubles long-term success

Supporting Smoking Cessation Smokers are 2-3 times more likely to succeed with support than without Stop smoking rates increase when a workplace smoke free policy (restriction) is implemented  Over 26% of the smokers who were prohibited from smoking at work had stopped smoking in the past 6 months, compared to 19% without a no smoking policy Start Living Healthier

A Comprehensive Approach Considerations There should be no cost to the employee to participate, and medications/nicotine replacement therapy should be subsidized Cost Start Living Healthier

A Comprehensive Approach Considerations Program should be accessible:  Offered on-site /made available across multiple sites  Offered during work hours (not in lieu of normal breaks)  Provide a range of supports - Smokers Helpline, one-on-one counselling, group counselling, etc. Accessibility Start Living Healthier

A Comprehensive Approach Considerations Smokers Helpline – free, confidential telephone support, tips, tools and advice from trained ‘Quit Specialists’  NS, NB, PEI  NL Accessibility Start Living Healthier

A Comprehensive Approach Considerations The provision of cessation supports should align with what your company can feasibly support (within its capacity) Consider: How many employees smoke; employee interest in stopping smoking; how employees prefer to engage in cessation; employee expectations around workplace stop smoking supports; gauge employee interest in using the types of supports the employer plans to offer Tailoring Start Living Healthier

Program Success: Representation & Engagement of Key Stakeholders Engage stakeholders at all stages Provide a voice to all workplace parties Supported by management, but not management driven  A committee could be formed to represent union management, union members, etc. Start Living Healthier

Program Success: Promotion The program needs to be effectively promoted to generate interest & encourage participation among employees Employees should have the opportunity to provide feedback on program success and potential areas for improvement Start Living Healthier

How Can Unions Support & Promote Stop Smoking Programs in the Workplace? Start Living Healthier

Smoke Free Worksites / Workplaces Unions can lead in…  Negotiating for a formal written no-smoking policy if none exist at worksites  Negotiating to strengthen an existing no-smoking policy  Adopting resolutions in support of smoke-free workplace policies Start Living Healthier

Health Benefits Unions can lead in…  Negotiating for comprehensive stop smoking therapy in member health benefits  Negotiating for improved coverage  Subsidize nicotine replacement therapy and cessation medication drug coverage  Eliminating lifetime maximum coverage  Improving access to counselling support:  Group counselling  One-on-one counselling  Smokers Helpline Start Living Healthier

Member Needs Unions can lead in…  Working with management and other key stakeholders to ensure the needs of members are met Start Living Healthier

Promotion Unions can lead in…  The promotion of the benefits of the program to its members Start Living Healthier

Summary Areas in which unions can lead and support its members in stopping smoking:  Smoke-free worksites/workplaces  Negotiating for comprehensive smoking cessation health benefits  Understanding and advocating for the needs of members around stop smoking support  Promotion of stop smoking programs Start Living Healthier

Thank You Start Living Healthier Thank you to CDHA for their participation in content development.

References 1.Canadian Cancer Society (2008). Effective Workplace Tobacco Cessation Interventions 2.Canadian Cancer Society (2008). Tobacco Statistics in Canada; Health Canada (2007). Smoking Diseases. Health Effects of Smoking. 3.Canadian Cancer Society (2008). Second Hand Smoke is Dangerous. 4.Canadian Lung Association. Making Quit Happen. 5.Conference Board of Canada (2008). How Canada Performs: A Report Card on Canada Health Overview 6.Conference Board of Canada (2006). Smoking and the Bottom Line: Updating the Costs of Smoking in the Workplace 7.Health Canada (2008). Smoking Cessation in the Workplace- A Guide to Helping your Employees Quit 8.Health Canada (2008). Second-hand Smoke. Start Living Healthier

References 9.Health Canada (2008). Smoking and Your Body- Health Effects of Smoking 10.Health Canada (2007). Rewards of Quitting 11.Health Canada (2007). Towards a Healthier Workplace: A Guidebook on Tobacco Control Policies. 12.Health Canada (2003). Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey. Moskowitz, J.M., Lin, Z. and Hudes, E.S (2000). The impact of workplace smoking ordinances in California on smoking cessation. American Journal of Public Health 13.New Zealand Ministry of Health (2007). New Zealand Smoking Cessation Guidelines. 14.Rehm, J. et al. (2006). The cost of substance abuse in Canada, Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse” 15.World Health Organization (2003). An international Treaty for Tobacco Control. Start Living Healthier