This Thursday marks the American Cancer Society’s annual Great
American Smokeout. Since 1977, the group has been putting on the
event encouraging smokers to quit for one day, and offering advice
on how to quit for good.
This Thursday marks the American Cancer Society’s annual Great American Smokeout. Since 1977, the group has been putting on the event encouraging smokers to quit for one day, and offering advice on how to quit for good.
Smokers are most successful in quitting when they have support – counseling, family, friends, nicotine replacement and prescription drugs to help them deal with withdrawals – but only one in seven reported using these aides during their last attempt to quit.
Nearly a quarter of all Americans still smoke according to the Centers for Disease Control, and smoking still kills more Americans than alcohol, car accidents, suicide, AIDS, homicide and illegal drugs combined – one out of every five.
If you’re thinking of quitting, advises cancer society spokeswoman Angie Carrillo, have backup.
“Plan on quitting,” she said. “The hardest thing is to put the cigarettes down and walk away, so tell yourself you’re going to stop smoking. Tell your friends that you’re going to stop smoking, and find an online support group. Do things to replace that time when you used to smoke. Instead of smoking after dinner, get up and wash the dishes right away.”
For local information on quitting resources, call (800) ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.
