The American Cancer Society states the reason so many Americans find it hard to quit is because they have developed a physical dependence on and emotional addiction to nicotine, the drug found naturally in tobacco, which is as addictive as heroin or cocaine. Visit cancer.org/smokeout and www.nysmokefree.com for resources to help you quit smoking.
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Smoking increases the risk for heart attack, stroke, lung disease, and cancer.
As of 2013, there were also 12.4 million cigar smokers in the us, and over 2.3 million who smoke tobacco in pipes – other risky and addictive forms of tobacco. The idea of the Smokeout grew from a 1971 event in Randolph, Massachusetts, at which Arthur P. Mullaney asked people to give up cigarettes for a day and donate the money they would have spent on cigarettes to a high school scholarship fund.
For more information or to sign up, you can contact the American Cancer Society at 477-9451/2.
Why quit? The health benefits begin the moment you stop smoking.
Here are a few ways to participate in the Great American Smokeout. Discussing quit options with your physician is a great place to begin, as your physician can discuss prescription treatment options including medicine to lessen cravings and nicotine replacement options appropriate to your individual scenario. Prior to your quit date, pay attention to what triggers the urge to smoke during your day. Many people want to quit but see the cost of cessation aids as a barrier. Awareness of your triggers will help you defeat them. The event challenges people to stop using tobacco and helps people know about the many tools they can use to quit and stay quit. Quit kits will be provided to all participants.
Using two or more of these measures to quit smoking works better than using any one of them alone.
But the good news is that the human body recovers after quitting.
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The Tobacco-Free College Campus Initiative is encouraging campuses across the nation to take a 1Day Stand on November 19, 2015, to celebrate the Great American Smokeout.
