A new Facebook application Quit Exchange encourages someone ready to quit smoking to challenge a friend to support them by offering up something in a “quit exchange.”
Designed for social media users, the Quit Exchange request can be started by those who want to help a friend quit or by someone ready to quit who wants to challenge a friend to support them,” says Mathew MacLeod a spokesperson with the Grey Bruce Health Unit.
“The 20-24 age group represents the largest group of people who smoke in the province,” said MacLeod, “Yet they can be the hardest to reach because many don’t access traditional media outlets like radio and newspapers. The Quit Exchange reaches them where they spend a lot of their time - on social media sites.”
The Quit Exchange is launching province-wide, with a goal to provide cessation supports for young adults to help them break their tobacco addiction. Don’t Quit Quitting celebrates quit attempts – including failed attempts – as a positive step towards quitting for good. Research shows that most tobacco users must make several quit attempts before they have long-term success.
“We know quitting is very hard,” added MacLeod. “The campaign components have all been developed so you don’t have to do it alone. You can share the experience with a friend and support each other to stay on track. And if you slip up, you have the power of social influence to support your next quit attempt.”
Also available on the Don’t Quit Quitting site is a Quit Counter that allows users to track information about their quit attempt such as the amount of money saved, number of cigarettes not smoked and smoke-free hours. This information can then be shared with friends and followers via Facebook or Twitter so friends can lend support. If a user slips up, they can click the “No Regrets Reset Button” and start again.
For more information about Don’t Quit Quitting and the new Quit Exchange application, visit www.dontquitquitting.ca or link from our Facebook page Grey Bruce Gets Healthy.
