Staff Blog
Today is the Great American Smokeout. How many cigs have you sucked down?
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| But it looks so cool when Don does it ... |
I've only smoked one!
Time's Health section has an interesting history of the Smokeout — the idea is to somehow NOT smoke at all for the entire day, to spearhead the eventual goal of quitting altogether — which the American Cancer Society launched in 1977.
By its fourth year, the American Cancer Society claims, as many as 16.5 million people participated in the Smokeout, with a million dropping the habit for good.
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The smoking rate among Americans has fallen steadily since the 1964 Surgeon General's report, from 42% that year to 19.8% of adults in 2007, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Smokeout organizers claim some responsibility, saying the campaign "set the stage for the cultural revolution in tobacco control that has occurred over this period."
Smokers — have you been participating in the GAS today? If so ... how's it going?
I didn’t know! I’ve had one. Now the overwhelming guilt makes me want to have another one.
Countless Americans stopped smoking for the Great American Smokeout yesterday. But it’s important to remember that the average smoker quits 7-10 times, so the challenge is not only in quitting originally, but in making sure that you continue to live your life smoke-free. This year there’s a new idea to help smokers stay quit after the official Smokeout. Its called Quit and Stay Quit Monday - smokers who make the decision to quit smoking on the Great American Smokeout can reaffirm their commitment to staying tobacco free on the following Monday and each Monday after that. Each week is an opportunity for you to celebrate your progress or recommit to improving your health and well-being. Check out http://www.healthymonday.org/stayquit for more info.