Every year, on the third Thursday of November, smokers across the nation take part in the American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout event. Encourage someone you know to use the date to make a plan to quit, or plan in advance and then quit smoking that day. By quitting – even for 1 day – smokers will be taking an important step toward a healthier life and reducing their cancer risk.
Why We Need the Great American Smokeout
About 36.5 million Americans still smoke cigarettes, and tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the world. While cigarette smoking rates have dropped (from 42% in 1965 to 15.1% in 2015), cigar, pipe, and hookah – other dangerous and addictive ways to smoke tobacco – are very much on the rise. Smoking kills people – there’s no “safe” way to smoke tobacco.
Quitting smoking has immediate and long-term benefits at any age. Quitting is hard, but you can increase your chances of success with help. Getting help through counseling or medications can double or triple the chances of quitting successfully.
Quitting is hard, but you can increase your chances of success with help. The American Cancer Society can tell you about the steps you can take to quit smoking and provide quit-smoking programs, resources and support that can increase your chances of quitting successfully. Find free tips and tools below.
Quick Links
- DHD#10 – Healthy Lifestyle
- Live Well – Tobacco Cessation Programs
- CDC – Quit Smoking
- Benefits of Quitting Smoking Over Time
- How to Quit Smoking or Smokeless Tobacco
- Smoking Habits Quiz
- Helping a Smoker Quit – Do’s and Don’tLatest News About Tobacco and Smoking
- Fight Back Against Tobacco
- Quit For Life – phone and web-based support
- Quit For Life app for iPhone
- Quit For Life app for Android