FOCUS - DECEMBER 2018 45 www.truenorthgutters.ca and HAPPY NEW YEAR from John Whyte. “Thanks for your support throughout the years” The public is also welcome to at- tend the quarterly information ses- sions led by Dr. John Stewart. These two-hour motivational talks are held on Monday nights. Kara also works part-time at Pharmacy Associates of Port Perry, where she is helping people to stop smoking. National statistics indicate that 16% per cent of Canadians are smok- ers, but Jane thinks that this is a conservative estimate. Over 22% of Scugog residents light up. Research is ongoing. The local Smoking Cessation Program is part of the STOP (Smoking Treatment for Ontario Patients) study that is funded by the government of Ontario in partnership with the Centre of Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). The third week of January is National Non-Smoking Week, dove- tailing with New Year’s Resolutions. Jane invites you to contact her or Kara so they can help you achieve your goal of becoming a non-smoker in 2019! Within 20 Minutes: Blood pressure and Heart Rate Decrease 8-12 Hours: Carbon Monoxide Drops, Blood Oxygen Returns to Normal 1-9 Months: Lungs Begin to Regain Normal Function, Including Ability to Clean and Fight Infection 5-15 Years: Risk of Stroke Reduced to that of Non-Smoker 15 Years: Risk of Coronary Heart Disease is Similar to Non-Smoker 2 Weeks to 3 Months: Improved Circulation and Lung Function 1 Year: Risk of Coronary Heart Disease is Cut in Half 10 Years: Risk of Cancer Reduced; Risk of Lung Cancer is Cut in Half If you think you have been smoking too long and it is too late for you to benefit from quitting, think again. The human body begins to recover quickly By Lynn Campbell, Focus on Scugog