Great American Smokeout Today - Nov. 15th

On November 15, the American Cancer Society will once again invite people from across the country to kick their tobacco habit by taking part in the Great American Smokeout®. In the more than three decades since Smokeout began, this event has grown from an effort simply to encourage people to quit for one day to a nationwide endeavor that helps people plan to quit for a lifetime and that encourages all Americans to advocate for comprehensive smoke-free laws that help protect workers and patrons from exposure to secondhand smoke.

We have made progress over the years, but tobacco use still remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the United States. Each year, smoking accounts for an estimated 438,000 premature deaths – including 38,000 deaths among nonsmokers as a result of secondhand smoke. The Great American Smokeout helps remind people about the dangers of tobacco use and empowers them with personalized tools, tips and support they need to give up the habit for good.

With many states increasing tobacco excise taxes and half the nation covered by some form of smoke-free law, we want everyone to know that there simply has never been a better time to quit – and that the American Cancer Society can help.

I encourage you to invite others to be a part of the Great American Smokeout. Remember, there has never been a better time to quit smoking.

Terry Music
Interim Chief Mission Officer