A virtual and community hub for quitting together
WHAT is SmokeFreeConnect?
A nationwide initiative supporting Canadian adults aged 18 and older who are interested in quitting commercial tobacco, especially those living in rural and remote communities.
Led by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), SmokeFreeConnect is funded by Health Canada through the Substance Use and Addictions Program, in partnership with four national health organizations:
- Canadian Cancer Society
- Canadian Lung Association
- Canadian Public Health Association
- Heart and Stroke Foundation
WHY does this matter?
People in rural and remote areas often face barriers like limited access to services, stigma, and isolation when it comes to quitting tobacco. We aim to reduce those barriers by centering real-life experiences and building supports that are practical, inclusive, and community-informed.
HOW does it work?
We’re delivering long term supports online and in person, co-designed with people who have lived or living experience of tobacco use. Their insights ensure the supports are not only evidence-based but also accessible and relevant to the community’s needs.
Project Stages
Stage 1 – Virtual Supports
- Email-based Hub: We will send monthly newsletters over two years featuring quit tips, motivational content, real-life testimonials, and helpful resources. Engagement will be measured through email opens and clicks, while motivation, quit attempts, and perceived support will be assessed through online surveys every six months. (Click Here to Enroll)
- Virtual Hub Launch & Evaluation: We will develop a virtual hub – a space designed to bring people together on a shared quit journey. The hub will offer access to resources, peer discussion forums, milestone galleries, and personal dashboards. Users will be able to track goals, connect with others, and engage with other interactive tools and community features. It will be co-designed through focus groups with people who have lived or living experience of tobacco use, who will help shape the tone, layout, content, and usability of the hub. Once finalized, the hub will be launched for public use and evaluated using engagement metrics such as page views, time spent on site, feature use, and return visits. We will also conduct biannual surveys to assess user motivation, quit attempts, and perceived support.
Stage 2 – Community Supports
We will identify five rural or remote communities across Canada to pilot in-person supports. These will include local engagement activities, access to free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), and supports co-developed with community input.
WHEN does it happen?
The study will run from 2025 to 2028. Phase 1 (virtual supports, co-design, and evaluation) is currently underway. Phase 2 (community-based delivery and NRT distribution) will follow in rural communities identified through Phase 1 findings.
Our Objectives
- Foster peer support and strengthen quit motivation and behaviour change
- Build an inclusive, user-informed digital cessation hub
- Pilot community-based interventions informed by Phase 1 findings
Who’s Involved
Smoke Free Connect brings together a team of researchers, public health professionals, community members with lived/living experience. To Learn more about our team click here.
Stay Connected
Interested in quitting or want to get involved?
- Sign up for the Monthly Newsletters
- Join a Focus Group to Help Design the Virtual Hub
- Become a Member of the Virtual Hub (Coming Soon)
- Become a community advisor and lead the cessation support in your community by emailing us at smokefreeconnect@camh.ca
Stay connected for the upcoming hub release.
For updates and involvement, email us at smokefreeconnect@camh.ca or follow us on social media (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok).
