Ontario’s Students Offered Reward to Quit Smoking

Leave The Pack Behind claims their contest doubles a smoker’s chances of quitting.

Young Smokers need specific strategies to become young quitters.

At least that’s the thinking behind Leave The Pack Behind’s Tenth Annual “Wouldurather…” contest.

“It is our goal to help people in our province to quit smoking and live long, healthy lives. The wouldurather… contest is a great way to help achieve this goal, because it motivates students to quit while they are young,” said Margarett Best, Minister of Health Promotion and Sport for Ontario.

The contest began this week to coincide with National Non-Smoking Week. Student smokers can enter any of four categories such as quitting completely, cutting their smoking back by 50%, refraining from smoking while they’re drinking, or staying smoke-free for six weeks.

Leave The Pack Behind claims their contest more than doubles a smoker’s chances of quitting by motivating them with teamwork, competition, or the chance to win cash or tuition waivers. It also attributes its success to tailoring their program to young people.

“The motivation of my health, my loved ones and possibly winning kept me going in the contest, even when I didn’t think I could go one more day without a smoke” said last year’s winner, Lacey L.

Students have until January 23rd at 11:59pm to register online.