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NEWS
“Wanna quit?... Wanna cut back?... Don’t wanna start?”
Local teens who are part of an Oxford County Public Health & Emergency Services quit smoking campaign are posing these questions to their peers in the second annual In the nic-o-time Challenge.

Beginning February 1, Oxford County teens aged 14-19 who quit using tobacco (including cigarettes, chew, cigars, cigarillos or hookah) for the month of March have a chance at winning $1,000 ultimate entertainment package or a $1,000 ultimate electronics package or, for helping a friend quit, a $50 gift card to the store of their choice. Teens can register for the challenge online at www.quit2win.ca.

Teens can sign up for the In the nic-o-time Challenge in one of three categories:
Wanna quit: To quit tobacco use for good
Wanna cut back: To cut back on tobacco use by 50%
Don’t wanna start: For those who don’t use tobacco and pledge to not start

The challenge is being promoted throughout Oxford County at secondary schools and community locations in the month of February. Teens who are interested in building a healthier Oxford County and who want to support In the nic-o-time in their school can call Oxford County Public Health at 519.539.9800, toll-free 1-800-755-0394, or visit www.quit2win.ca to sign up for the challenge by February 29, 2012 and learn more about the rules and regulations.

QUOTES
“Once teens get hooked on tobacco it is a very difficult addiction to overcome. This is why it’s critical to never start using tobacco products in the first place. The Challenge is not only about quitting, it’s also about reaching out to young people who have never used tobacco and asking them to make a commitment to stay tobacco-free.”
- Abby Bryan-Pulham, Youth Engagement Coordinator, Oxford County Public Health & Emergency Services

QUICK FACTS
In the nic-o-time campaign was first launched in 2011 by the What the Health? youth team (a Smoke-Free Ontario-sponsored Youth Engagement Program) at Oxford County Public Health. The program supports teens as they develop health promotion campaigns for other youth. Oxford County’s youth team is part of a network of teams in health units across southwestern Ontario.
Oxford County’s What the Health? youth team consists of students from each of College Avenue Secondary School, École secondaire Sainte-Marie, Glendale High School, Ingersoll District Collegiate Institute, St. Mary’s Catholic High School and Woodstock Collegiate Institute.
Having more young people take charge and lead a tobacco-free life will help prevent 44,000 deaths in Canada every year resulting from tobacco-related illness.

RESOURCES
Website – www.quit2win.ca
Promotional video for In the nic-o-time made by Rocket Ship Productions
Facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/InTheNicotime

BACKGROUND
The In the nic-o-time Challenge for teens in Southwestern Ontario runs parallel to the provincial Driven To Quit contest for adults aged 19 years and older. Both campaigns are sponsored by Smoke-Free Ontario. The provincial Driven to Quit contest is in partnership with the Canadian Cancer Society.

Ontario has developed a comprehensive Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy which combines public education with programs, policies and legislation to help smokers to quit, protect non-smokers from exposure to second-hand smoke, and encourage young people to never start.

ABOUT WHAT THE HEALTH?  The What the Health? team is a group of committed, high-energy Oxford County teens who are active in their communities and schools. They are passionate about health issues that affect their peers.  The team also provides teens with information to help them make good choices to protect their health now and in the future. We represent six Oxford County secondary schools. For more information, visit www.whatthehealth.ca or follow us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/whatthehealthca. 

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