Ministry of Health
B.C. Smoking Cessation Program
Simplified Information for Pharmacists
The B.C. government’s Smoking Cessation Program helps B.C residents to stop smoking or using other tobacco products by contributing to the cost of:
- specific prescription smoking cessation drugs, or
- specific non-prescription nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products.
Program Information
| Program policy and claims procedures | PharmaCare Policy Manual Section 5.20 (PDF 433K) |
| Key information for submitting claims | Pharmacists’ Quick Reference Sheet (PDF 106K) |
| Products covered (including DINs/PINs) | List of eligible smoking cessation medications (PDF 228K) |
Clinical Information
| Effective pharmacological aids to smoking cessation | Table of the dosages, adverse effects, instructions for use and precautions for the PharmaCare-covered prescription smoking cessation drugs and nicotine replacement therapy products |
| Potential drug interactions with smoking and quitting | Chart of the most common drug interaction issues connected to the use of tobacco |
| CADTH Smoking Cessation Pharmacotherapy – Summary for Health Care Providers | Based on the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) report, Pharmacologic-based Strategies for Smoking Cessation: Clinical and Cost-Effectiveness Analyses |
| QuitNow | Resources for health care providers, including informational videos |
Information for your Patients
- Patient information—in English, Farsi, French, Korean, Punjabi, simplified and traditional Chinese, and Vietnamese
- Patients’ Frequently Asked Questions
- Healthy Families BC’s Prescription for Health program—provides health risk assessment and lifestyle support services to people who smoke
- QuitNow Services NRT usage guide (PDF 526K)—a printable patient handout that includes practical tips on using nicotine patches and gum, as well as general information about QuitNow Services
- Quit Now—for general information and tips on tobacco cessation strategies
For more smoking cessation strategies, refer your patients to these additional QuitNow Services:
| QuitNow Library | Information, tips, tools and techniques. |
| CareCoaches® | A phone consultation with a trained CareCoach can be booked at any time of day or night by phoning 8‑1‑1. More information on CareCoaches® is available online at QuitNow by Phone. |
| Quit Now Online | Community of peer-to-peer support groups. |
| QuitNow By TXT | 14-week mobile texting service that provides helpful quit smoking tips and motivational support. |
| Demonstration Videos | How to use nicotine gum and patches. |
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