January 17, 2005 ( Halifax, NS) – Health-care providers are continuing to line up against tobacco use. Nova Scotia's doctors and dentists, who see the effects of smoking on their patients every day, have joined forces to talk to their patients about the health impacts of tobacco. "Talking about smoking is the first step on the road to quitting," said Dr. Maria Alexiadis, President of Doctors Nova Scotia. "We want to open the dialogue between us, the health-care providers, and our patients."

Opening that dialogue is easier with a new Why You Want to Quit Smoking information card produced jointly by the Nova Scotia Dental Association and Doctors Nova Scotia. "Tobacco cessation is an important initiative for dentistry," said Dr. Heather Carr, a practicing dentist and Tobacco Cessation Representative for the dental association. "From periodontal disease to oral cancer, tobacco frequently causes significant damage in a person's mouth." Statistics show that smokers are between four to 15 times more likely to contract oral cancer. Why You Want to Quit Smoking is being distributed to physician and dental offices across Nova Scotia during National Non-Smoking Week, Jan. 16 to 22. The information is also available on the Doctors Nova Scotia website, www.doctorsNS.com.

This tool represents the latest in a series of cooperative tobacco-cessation initiatives between the two organizations. The information card is aimed at making smokers think about their own personal reasons to quit smoking to help them see how they could benefit from quitting. "Together, the membership of our two organizations reaches the majority of Nova Scotians at some point during the year," said Dr. Alexiadis, "and its important that we use that opportunity to help our patients who smoke realizehow their habit is affecting their health." Doctors Nova Scotia and the Nova Scotia Dental Association want to ensure all Nova Scotians know there is support for anyone who is thinking about quitting smoking. "Talking with a health-care provider about your reasons to quit," said Dr. Alexiadis, "is an excellent way to start."