Smoking Cessation Program in the Preadmission Clinic

This study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial which evaluates the efficacy of preoperative smoking counseling and varenicline (a medication approved by Health Canada and FDA for quitting smoking) to provide long term smoking cessation (i.e., abstinence for at least one year) in surgical patients. The primary hypothesis is as follows: "A significant percentage of surgical patients will be receptive to smoking cessation interventions in the pre-admission clinic and will refrain from smoking at 24 and 52 weeks after starting the treatment." The secondary hypothesis is as follows: "Patients who receive interventions but do not quit smoking will have reduced number of cigarettes consumed/day or improved their readiness to quit smoking at 24 and 52 weeks after starting the treatment."