Great American Smokeout 2022
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An intervention event called "The Great American Smokeout" happens annually on the third Thursday of November and is facilitated by the American Cancer Society (ACS). This event has been in place since 1977 and is designed to promote smoking cessation efforts across America. Roughly 40 million American adults smoke, and tobacco remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and early death in the country (ACS, 2022).
Rates of tobacco use across America has declined greatly since the start of the Great American Smokeout. From 1965 to 2019, the number of adults that smoke in the United States has dropped from 42 percent to 15 percent (ACS, 2022). This decrease is attributed to strong smoke-free policies, increased tobacco prices, media campaigns and a general increase in knowledge.
Although these rates have dropped, many Americans still continue to smoke cigarettes. Each year more than 480,000 of those who smoke will die from illnesses caused by smoking (American Lung Association (ALA), 2014). |
Quitting smoking can improve your health right away. The same day you quit your blood pressure will go down, within a month breathing and blood flow will improve and within one year your risk for heart disease will be half the risk of someone who smokes. Also your overall risk of dying from cancers will decrease and will continue to decrease the longer you are smoke-free (FDA, 2009).
Quitting smoking often requires multiple attempts. Using medication or counseling alone increases smoking cessation rates. But the combination of both is the most effective means to kick the habit (ALA, 2014). If you are thinking about quitting, research your options first. There are over the counter products that can be used such as the patch, different gums and lozenges. There are also prescription medications that can be used. If you would like to try a prescription medication please bring that up with your health care provider.
QUIT SMOKING TIPS
Make a plan, set a date
| • | Pick a date you want to quit (make it a special event like a birthday) |
| • | Plan how to handle situations where others are smoking |
| • | Remove cigarettes from your go-to places (house, car, workplace) |
Get help
| • | Join a support group |
| • | Tell friends and family that you’re quitting and encourage them to help you, or enlist a buddy who also wants to quit and do it together |
| • | Enlist help from your health care provider or call a quit smoking help line |
Handle cravings and withdrawal
| • | Try nicotine replacement products or medicine (with instruction from your healthcare provider) |
| • | Start a hobby to keep your mind off smoking |
| • | Find ways to reduce stress (example: exercise, spending time with friends, joining a group, meditation) |
Plan for setbacks
| • | Do not give up |
| • | Try again |
| • | Talk with others who have quit. See what worked for them and what didn’t (FDA, 2009) |
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If you are a smoker then you know quitting can be hard. But that doesn't mean give up. No matter what your age or how long you have been smoking or how many times you have tried to quit before, quitting improves your health immediately and long term. Use The Great American Smokeout, Nov. 17, 2022, as a jumpstart to help you quit. Also the use of counseling, medication and support increase your chances of quitting successfully. If you need help quitting and want to learn more, visit www.cancer.org or call the American Cancer Society any time at 1.800.227.2345. |
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