A capital approach: Tobacco treatment and cessation within Nova Scotia's Capital Health District.

Inspired by Nova Scotia's comprehensive Tobacco Control Strategy and in an effort to support Capital Health's 100% smoke-free policy, the Addiction Prevention and Treatment Services (APTS) branch of Capital District Health Authority researched, designed and implemented an innovative tobacco intervention program. The success of the Capital approach, combining peer support, adult education concepts, addictions treatment knowledge, and free pharmacological aids, has sparked interest and dialogue among Canadian and American addictions professionals. The following article describes the rationale, guiding principles, key components and future directions of APTS's "To Be Tobacco Free" program.