The Great American Smokeout Returns for Another Year of Change and Hope

By Anna Valdez
Web Content Contributor

For over 40 years, the American Cancer Society has hosted its annual Great American Smokeout, an intervention event held on the third Thursday of November in an effort to combat tobacco use. The event will take place on Nov. 15 this year as a way for tobacco users to commit to living smoke-free and lead healthier lives.

Nearly 38 million Americans continue to smoke cigarettes, making it the single largest preventable cause of death and illness in the world. According to the American Cancer Society, groups of Americans suffer disproportionately from smoking-related cancer and other diseases, including those who have less education, live below the poverty level or who suffer from serious psychological distress. Because hundreds of thousands of lives are lost to smoking each year, the American Cancer society developed The Great American Smokeout to educate people about the effects of tobacco use and encourage users to quit smoking.

The Great American Smokeout is an opportunity for thousands of smokers across the country to join together in taking the necessary steps to live a longer and healthier life, free of tobacco. The American Cancer Society emphasizes the importance of starting versus getting clean right away. The journey is not always easy and quitting won’t happen overnight. However, it is important for cigarette users to know how much support is available and that living smoke-free is possible with commitment and a plan of action.

Additionally, The American Cancer Society notes that in order to quit smoking and remain smoke-free, users need to understand what they are up against, what their options are and where to go for help. It is not recommended to try and tackle the issue alone. Using telephone quitlines, meeting with smoking counselors, coaches or attending nicotine anonymous meetings are some of the many options available to those seeking guidance and help.

Under the Great American Smokeout Event Tools and Resources page, you can download anything from posters and flyers, to sticker sheets and quit cards for use in the workplace and other places within the community.

To learn more about the available resources the American Cancer Society offers, you can call 1-800-227-2345 or check out free tips and tools on their website.

Featured Illustration by Anna Valdez via Canva.