The Great American Smokeout

As some of you may know, I quit smoking 12 years, 9 months, and 30 days ago. That according to my sidebar reminder. But who’s counting? It was one of the hardest things I have ever done. At the same time, it was one of my most rewarding accomplishments. Every November, smokers across the nation take part in the Great American Smokeout by smoking less or quitting for the day. The Great American Smokeout takes place on the third Thursday before Thanksgiving. Today’s the day to quit!

I quit smoking for many reasons. My kids, my wife and of course, my health. But most of all, I quit for ME. I made a commitment to myself. And if you want quit, that is imperative. You have to quit for you, not someone else. Otherwise, your heart won’t be in it and you will probably fail. BUT, don’t give up. If first you do not succeed, try, try again. I did! I quit many times before finally kicking the habit for good. You can do it! And today’s the day!

Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, accounting for approximately 1 of every 5 deaths (443,000 people) each year.

History of the Smokeout

• In 1971, Arthur Mullaney, a Massachusetts resident, asked people to give up smoking for a day and to donate the money they would have spent on tobacco to a local high school.
• The first D-Day or “Don’t Smoke Day” was held in Minnesota in 1974 by Lynn Smith.
• The California Division of the American Cancer Society successfully got nearly 1 million smokers to quit for the day on November 18, 1976.
• The Society took it nationwide in 1977.
• As many as one-third of the nation’s 43 million smokers are possibly taking the day off from smoking.

In the U.S., cigarette smoking costs our economy more than $193 billion annually:
- $97 billion in lost productivity
- $96 billion in health care expenditures

Some Smoking Facts

• There are 43.4 million U.S. adult smokers
• 19.8% of all U.S. adults smoke — about 1 out of 5 people.
• Each day, about 1,000 persons younger than 18 years of age become regular smokers.
• Smoking causes cancer, heart disease and lung diseases, including emphysema and bronchitis.
• Of the 1.3 billion worldwide smokers, about 650 million will eventually be killed by tobacco.
• In 2008, smoking killed more than 5 million people, more than AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined.

For more information on the Smokeout, visit:
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/subsite/greatamericans/Smokeout.asp

Do you or someone you know smoke? Are you planning on participating in the Great American Smokeout? Have you already quit? Let us know!

** Sources: Centers for Disease Control, American Cancer Society, United Nations

Tagged as: Quit Smoking • smokeout