Health partners offering cash prizes as incentives to help young adults quit smoking, cut back, or remain smoke-free

Kingston - KFL&A Public Health, in partnership with the provincial organization, Leave The Pack Behind, is offering young adults in Ontario between the ages of 18 and 29 a chance to win up to $5000 cash to quit smoking. There are additional cash prizes to be won for those who reduce their smoking or remain smoke-free. The contest titled, Wouldurather… is a 6-week program with a goal to reduce the high rates of smoking among young adults in Ontario.

Last year, more than 8,600 young adults throughout the province entered the Wouldurather… contest. At the three-month follow-up, 19.8% (366) of the 1,850 who pledged to quit, continued to be smoke-free. “The Wouldurather…contest helps hundreds of young adults throughout the province quit smoking, cut back on the number of cigarettes they smoke or remain smoke-free,” said Nicole Szumlanski, RN, Public Health Nurse with KFL&A Public Health. “The contest is tailored to young adults and encourages the support from a friend or family member to help the person stay motivated and on track.”

The Wouldurather… contest offers the opportunity for contestants to choose from one of four categories. Young adults can quit smoking entirely (Quit For Good), cut their smoking in half (Keep The Count) or refrain from smoking any time they are drinking or socializing (Party Without The Smoke). Individuals who do not smoke can also enter the contest by pledging to remain smoke-free (Don’t Start and Win). Contestants will receive support e-mails tailored to their goal and have the option to identify a “buddy” who will act as social support for the duration of the contest.

The Wouldurather… contest is available to all young adults ages 18 to 29 who are residents of Ontario. Registration is open at http://www.wouldurather.ca/ until January 22 at 11:59 p.m. Those who register before December 31, 2016, have a chance to win the early bird cash prize of $500.

Leave The Pack Behind is an age-tailored tobacco control initiative offered year-round in Ontario. Funded by the Government of Ontario with prize support provided by the makers of Thrive and Habitrol, the Wouldurather... contest aims to motivate and encourage young adult Ontarians to live tobacco-free lives.

Important dates for this year’s campaign:

November 15 to December 31, 2016: Early-bird registration

January 1 to 22, 2017: Full registration

January 23 to March 5, 2017: Contest period

March 2017: Winners selected

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For more information, contact:

Susanne Orychock

Communications and Public Relations Specialist

KFL&A Public Health

Susanne.orychock@kflapublichealth.ca

613-549-1232, ext. 1236

Twitter: @kflaph  

Facebook: KFL&A Public Health

ref: PR051216-01