THUNDER BAY -- Scaring people into quitting smoking is no longer effective a local pharmacist says.
With that in mind pharmacists, who are also certified quit coaches, at River Terrace Medical Pharmacy came up with another way, showing smokers results by testing how much carbon monoxide is in their system.
Called a smokerlyzer, the breath carbon monoxide system is used to show how fewer parts per million are in a person once they stop smoking. Around six parts per million is considered too high, putting a person at risk for stroke and other health problems.
"The evidence shows that you don't need to scare people anymore. People already know that it's bad so we're looking at it from an addictions standpoint," pharmacist Bryan Gray said.
With the New Year now in full swing, more and more people want to quit smoking. His pharmacy's new program, which runs around $100, includes appointments, motivation and replacement therapy, which can be provided on-site, if needed.
"We're just trying to be another resource available to the community," Gray said.
The goal is to get people cutting their smoking in at least half two weeks into the program.
"And ideally at four weeks be completely smoke free," Gray said.
