The Great American Smokeout

Several times a day there are many people who brave the elements, wind, rain, morning fog, an evening chill, even snow, to go outside and have a smoke. Some people forgo flying on a plane because it robs them of a few hours in which they need their nicotine fix. A smoking addiction can not only add to travel time for some, but it steals lives, creating tragedy instead of memories. Every November, the American Cancer Society (ACS) stages the “Great American Smokeout” challenging the over 45 million nicotine-addicts just in the United States alone to put the cigarettes down for good.

Today, November 20th, marks the 33rd annual Smokeout where members of the American Cancer Society strive to get as many smokers to quit as they can by offering free resources to make quitting easier. Started in 1976, the Smokeout encourages people to stop smoking for one day out of the year in the hopes that one clean day will inspire smokers to quit for good. ACS has a great success rate with over 44 percent of American smokers who have quit for at least one day in the past year.

By establishing the Quitline* in 2000, people struggling to stop smoking are able to use the toll free hotline to speak to a trained counselor in order to receive educated advice and confidential counseling about their addiction. The Quitline has shown to more than double someone’s chances of quitting and has already given support to more than 380,000 smokers. The ACS website also lays out resources for smokers and their families and loved ones to start a long-term plan to stop the nicotine addiction.

Social networking sites have also proved to be helpful in encouraging smokers to quit by getting friends and family actively involved in their progress and support says a study from the New England Journal of Medicine. A spokesman from ACS says, “…social networks are helpful in quitting smoking…. Friends and family can help the most by being aware and supportive of the struggle to quit, and the American Cancer Society has resources to help them show support for their loved one who is trying to quit.”

Tobacco prices are continuing to rise and the tolerance around cigarette smoke is diminishing because many states have enacted anti-smoking laws inside public places including bars. Though it may seem that smoking is more prevalent in Europe than in the states, our awareness of smoking is heightened and because of the dangers of second hand smoke as well as lung disease, cancer, and early death, a stigma has grown around tobacco in the United States.

The American Cancer Society’s plan includes ways to help smokers transform their entire life from grocery shopping tips to healthy recipes, weight control elements, and ways to keep active. Hours after quitting, former smokers can experience a range of health benefits that accumulate over time such as an immediate drop in heart rate and blood pressure, better circulation and lung function, lower heart disease and stroke risk, and eventually a lowered risk for a lung, throat, mouth, esophagus, pancreas, bladder and cervical cancers. Just smoking 3 cigarettes a day adds up to 1,065 cigarettes or 54 packs smoked and over 200 dollars thrown away per year. Calculate your smoking numbers with the ACS cigarette calculator  and shed some light on your habit. Do yourself and your loved ones a favor and reduce your risk now, join the ACS’ Great American Smokeout and plan on today being your first day as a non-smoker.

*The American Cancer Society’s Quitline: 1-800-227-2345