Frequently asked questions

You can browse this portal freely, with no registration. Two entry points are offered, depending on your situation.

• If you're exploring on your own, you can browse according to your needs of the moment: understanding dependence, making a first quit attempt, reducing harm without quitting completely, learning about vaping, supporting a loved one who smokes or finding out about pharmacological aids. No commitment is required.

• If a care team is already supporting you, your counsellor at a smoking cessation centre can point you to a pathway suited to where you are: after a hospital stay, in preparation for an appointment, or to build on your progress after a consultation.

Every resource featured, whether an article, a website or an app, has been selected and validated by healthcare professionals. You can consult it directly, and come back to it whenever you like.

Anyone affected by tobacco or vaping, whether they're thinking about quitting, already on a quit journey, or simply looking for information. You don't need an appointment or to be followed by a care team to benefit from it.

Access is completely free and requires no registration. There's no account to create and no password to remember. The public services the portal directs you to — such as smoking cessation centres or the I QUIT NOW helpline — are also free, and pharmacological aids (patches, gum) are covered under the applicable public programs.

Yes. A French version is available at any time using the language selector in the header of every page.

The portal is designed to display just as well on a phone as on a tablet or computer. There's no app to download: a web browser is all you need. The format has been deliberately kept simple so it remains accessible to as many people as possible.

Yes. Every page has a stable address that you can bookmark, send by email or text message, or open from a QR code. A counsellor can therefore give you the exact page that matches your situation.

This portal was designed with your privacy in mind. You can browse it without creating an account, identifying yourself or providing contact information. Please see the Privacy Policy for more details.

No. This patient space is offered as a complement to care, but it remains outside the scope of your medical record. The pages you visit and the resources you explore are neither added to your record nor shared with your care team. If you decide to book an appointment at a smoking cessation centre, that follow-up remains confidential, just like any consultation within the health system.

No. The portal builds no user profile and shares no information with third parties, whether an employer, an insurer or a commercial company.

The apps and services featured were evaluated in part on their data protection practices and the clarity of their privacy policy. That said, these tools remain independent of the portal: we always encourage you to review their own terms before installing or using them.

Each resource goes through a structured evaluation covering content quality, safety and data protection, as well as the level of evidence supporting it. This evaluation is based on a recognized methodology, aligned in particular with the international standard ISO 82304-2. The selected content is then validated by the clinicians of the smoking cessation centres. The portal thereby complements the national public resources of tobaccofreequebec.ca by organizing them around your situation.

No. No resource has paid to be featured, and no advertising is displayed. Selection is based solely on the quality and relevance of the resources, which guarantees its independence.

To spare you a tedious sorting job, we deliberately limited the number of resources featured. Only those whose quality, usefulness and reliability have been demonstrated, and which suit the Quebec context, are included. A resource may be set aside because it didn't meet the criteria, because another met them better, or because its benefits weren't sufficiently established.

No, and that's not its purpose. The portal supports your understanding and autonomy; it doesn't replace professional advice or your care team's follow-up. Many people use it to better prepare for their appointments and get more out of their consultations. If a situation worries you, persists or gets worse, see a healthcare professional.

Most people who manage to quit get there after a few attempts. One cigarette doesn't wipe out the progress you've made. What matters is getting back on track quickly and, if you're being supported, talking about it with your counsellor at your next follow-up so you can adjust your journey together.

Resources are available at all times:

• Info-Social 811 — dial 811, option 2, to quickly reach a professional in psychosocial intervention. Free and confidential.

• I QUIT NOW helpline — 1 866 527-7383 (1 866 J'ARRÊTE) for specialized support to quit smoking. Free and confidential.

• Suicide help and prevention — suicide.ca, 1 866 APPELLE (1 866 277-3553) or text 535353.

• Emergency 911 — if you or a loved one is in immediate danger.

Found a broken link or inaccurate information, or know a reliable resource that deserves consideration? Write to us through the Contact us page. Your comments contribute directly to improving the portal.