“Quit for a day, and consider giving up for good” is the message that the American Cancer Society is sending to the 1.2 million smokers in Tennessee during the 28th Annual Great American Smokeout on Nov. 18.
This nationally recognized American Cancer Society event is held every year to raise awareness on the dangers associated with tobacco use and to encourage smokers to quite for a lifetime by starting with just one day.
Last year, more than 8.3 million of the estimated 46.2 million smokers in the nation (18 percent) took part in the Great American Smokeout, with nearly 2.3 million (five percent) giving up completely for the day. If those results are matched this year, almost 214,000 people in Tennessee could be expected to smoke less or not at all at this year’s Smokeout.
In Hamilton County, smokers wishing to kick the habit are invited to participate in “Gonesmoke: A Tale of the New West” from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 18, at Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department, Erlanger (Downtown), Erlanger Health Link Plus (Northgate), Kindred Hospital and Memorial Health Care System.
Each facility will have an area decorated in a western theme where smokers who agree to quit for 24 hours can dump their cigarettes into barrels for disposal. In exchange for half a pack or more of their cigarettes, participants will be entered into a rawing for a 20-pound “Cold Turkey.” One turkey will be given away at each facility. Turkeys have been provided by the Tobacco Free Tennessee Coalition.
At 4 p.m., a “cigarette round-up” will occur. All collected cigarettes will be brought to the American Cancer Society’s Chattanooga office, 850 Fort Wood Street, where they will be buried.
Also on Thursday, every baby born that day at Erlanger, Parkridge East and the Women’s East Pavilion will receive “I’m a Born Non-Smoker” T-shirs, which have been provided by the Tobacco Free Tennessee Coalition.
Even though smoking rates have dropped dramatically in the 28 years since the first Great American Smokeout, tobacco continues to be a major cancer killer.
Smoking will cause about 30 percent of 2004’s estimated 563,700 cancer deaths. Smoking causes many cancers besides lung cancer. It is a major cause of cancers of the mouth, larynx, pharynx, esophagus, kidney, bladder, pancreas, and cervix and has more recently been associated with colorectal cancer, myeloid leukemia, as well as cancers of the liver, stomach, and nasal sinuses.
Tobacco is as addicting as opiates, amphetamines and cocaine. Secondhand smoke contains more than 4,000 substances, more than 40 of which are known or suspected to cause cancer in humans and animals.
From 1995-1999, adult male and female smokers lost an average of 13.2 and 14.5 years of life, respectively, due to smoking.
Only about five percent of every day smokers are able to quit and maintain abstinence for a year, pointing to the importance of repeated attempts, multiple approaches, and ongoing support.
Behavioral programs can achieve long-term abstinence rates of 12-18 percent in a single attempt.
The American Cancer Society offers support and information for smokers who want to quit during Smokeout and every other day, 24 hours a day, by calling 1-800-ACS-2345 or logging on to www.cancer.org.
The American Cancer Society is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by saving lives, diminishing suffering and preventing cancer through research, education, advocacy and service.