Participate in the Great American Smokeout 2006!

Join the American Cancer Society in participating in the 30th Annual Great American Smokeout on Thursday, November 16th, 2006! The event challenges smokers to quit smoking for the day! Adults and children across the country will be raising awareness about tobacco use, helping smokers to quit, and learning about tobacco prevention measures.

The Smokeout began in 1976 when the California division of the American Cancer Society successfully prompted nearly one million smokers to quit for the day.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 22.3% of high school students and 8.1% of middle school students were current smokers in 2004. White and Hispanic students had the highest prevalence of cigarette use. Every year approximately 440,000 people die in the United States from illnesses related to cigarette smoking, making smoking the most preventable cause of premature death in our society. Cigarette smoking is responsible for 30% of all cancer deaths and 87% of lung cancer deaths. Smoking also leads to heart disease, aneurysms, bronchitis, emphysema, and stroke, and it contributes to the severity of pneumonia and asthma. Not only is direct smoke inhalation dangerous, secondhand smoke (the smoke from cigarettes) is harmful to the health of all people exposed to it, especially children.

The American Cancer Society suggests several activities for ways to get yourself or your school involved in the Smokeout. Some of the activities include:

  • Ask students to research the chemicals contained in cigarettes,
  • Read personal accounts from smokers suffering from emphysema,
  • Write or email your legislators to let them know that you support tobacco prevention, and
  • Calculate or estimate how many high school students will die prematurely from tobacco use.

For more information about the Smokeout contact the American Cancer Society or visit their website. Included in the website are resources for quitting smoking, improving your health, and locating activities in your area to get involved in the Great American Smokeout!

 

American Cancer Society

2970 Clairmont Road, NE
Suite 840
Atlanta, GA 30329

1-800-ACS-2345

www.cancer.org

 

Source: American Cancer Society, Inc.


 

 
 
Connect With NSBA
 
 


From: 
Email:  
To: 
Email:  
Subject: 
Message: