A Milton pharmacist is helping local residents keep their new year's resolutions and kick the habit.

Dawn Ross, a pharmacist at Shoppers Drug Mart on Kennedy Circle, is taking part in the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health's (CAMH) Smoking Treatment for Ontario Patients (STOP) study.

The initiative offers participants one-on-one counselling with pharmacists like Ross and five weeks of nicotine replacement therapy.

"I have lived and worked in Milton for over 21 years and it is important to me to help people in my community improve their overall health," she said. "I get great satisfaction helping people live as healthy a life as possible, and quitting smoking is a great step in that direction."

Ross, who joined the STOP study last March, said the study has been very well received in the Milton area.

She noted many participants have found being involved in the study to be very helpful and have even referred friends and family to also sign up.

Within the first few weeks of quitting smoking, Ross said, people already experience many health benefits such as increased energy and better sleeping patterns, as well as having a little more money in their pockets.

Over the next few months and years people will see the more long-term benefits such as improved circulation, reduced risk of heart disease and stroke and reduced risk of cancer of the lung, mouth, throat, kidneys and pancreas.

To date, the STOP study has allowed over 4,000 Ontarians access to five weeks of free nicotine replacement therapy -- in the form of a patch, gum or inhaler -- from their local participating pharmacies.

"For smokers in Ontario who are ready to quit, access to cessation counseling and nicotine replacement therapies has never been better," said Minister of Health Promotion Margaret Best.

"The McGuinty government has made unprecedented investments in helping smokers to quit smoking and move toward a smoke-free Ontario."

Those interested in joining the study may do so by enrolling on-line at www.stopstudy.ca. Eligible participants in the Milton and surrounding area may then contact Ross to set up an appointment to receive five weeks of free nicotine replacement therapy. She can be reached at (905) 878-6828 or by visiting Shoppers Drug Mart at 1020 Kennedy Circle.