by Darron Kloster in The Times Colonist "On the Street section"
Dated March 13th, 2008

Local quit-smoking guru Barbara Miller, under contract with the Vancouver Island Health Authority and other organizations to help people kick the habit, has released a revised edition of her popular book, How to Quit Smoking Even If You Don't Want To.

Miller's website, www.quitsmokingbmp.com, has also been expanded after an investment from Coast Capital Savings credit union. "Times are changing and we see this as a good fit for the community and we see the potential for BMP Productions to help many smokers finally kick the habit," said Coast Capital's Andrea Archer.

Health authority helps workers to quit smoking

Darron Kloster, Times Colonist
Published: Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Barbara Miller, the feisty entrepreneur who developed her own method of quitting smoking and built a business around her techniques, has a contract with the Vancouver Island Health Authority to help its employees eradicate the evil weed from their lives.

Miller's BMP Productions signed on to conduct ongoing clinics as demand warrants for the authority, which has 16,000 employees -- about two per cent of whom smoke, says Glen Colwill, a corporate director in VIHA's human resources department.

No costs were disclosed, but Miller's website, www.quitsmokingbmp.com, lists eight-hour workshops for $150 or $200 for couples. Miller, who penned a book How To Quit Smoking Even If You Don't Want To, says she teaches a "psychological approach" and has helped many people quit the habit since starting the day-long workshops in 2005.

Colwill said the clinics will be made available to VIHA staff that has a desire to quit. Employees with the health authority who smoke already receive $300 lifetime for nicotine therapy, which includes patches and other aids to quit.

Colwill defended the costs as minimal compared with the financial burdens smokers put on the health- care system.

He added the workshops are part of being proactive to provincial regulations next year when all health properties go smoke-free.

"We want to support and assist our employees who have a desire to quit," said Colwill. "We believe one of the supports is education and that is why we contracted Barbara to teach her skills and methods."

He said feedback from participants who have attended Miller's early clinics has been positive.

Miller can be reached at 383-9087.

Quit smoking with the BMP Method by Barbara Miller.

Uniquely effective - even when you don't "want" to quit!