Tobacco.org

33,000 calls received at state quit smoking line  

State health officials say more than 33,000 calls have been received at a toll-free line created more than three years ago to help Tennesseans quit smoking.

The Tennessee Tobacco QuitLine, established in August 2006, is 1-800-QUIT-NOW.

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Pennsylvania Department of Health Offers Resources to Help Smokers Quit During 

The Department of Health is offering support to help Pennsylvania smokers give up tobacco for good during the 34th annual Great American Smokeout on Nov. 19.

"The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention just reported cigarette smoking among adults increased for the first time in 15 years. Approximately 46 million adults still smoke and about two million are Pennsylvanians," said Health Secretary Everette James. "While quitting can be difficult, we are asking smokers to use the Smokeout on Nov. 19 as an opportunity to take the first step toward a healthier lifestyle."

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Smoker ready to extinguish habit  

Editor’s Note: This is the first in a series of stories about Melanie Birge’s battle with nicotine addiction. . . .

Teary-eyed Melanie Birge, 42, of Lawrence, knows her nicotine addiction has affected her family, and that’s one of the reasons she plans to participate in the American Cancer’s Society Great American Smokeout on Thursday.

“I have three kids still at home. They are concerned about me dying early because they hear it from the schools, ‘Don’t do drugs, don’t smoke.’ They are always upset when I do go out and smoke,” she said.

Birge began smoking when she was Katie’s age and was a habitual smoker by 13, giving in to peer pressure from her older cousins and siblings who smoked.

“It was just cool in the ’70s to smoke, and I wanted to fit in. Everyone I knew, including my parents, smoked,” she said.

Today, she is disgusted by it.

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Great American Smokeout says keep trying to stop smoking 

On Thursday, please join the brave people across the state in a death-defying act -- quit smoking, even for just one day. Nov. 19 is the Great American Smoke-Out.

Tobacco use continues to be the leading cause of preventable death. It kills in so many ways -- preventable deaths due to diseases like lung cancer, heart disease, asthma and chronic lung disease, pancreatic cancer and accidental deaths from fires. The list goes on and on.

I am a registered nurse, and I have seen the pain and suffering firsthand during my entire professional life.

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LETTER: 'Lets quit together'  

Here's what needs to be done here in the United States: President Obama made a statement that on Nov. 19 -- The Great American Smoke-out date -- he is going to quit smoking, and he said, "America, please join me in quitting one of the most disgusting addictions the world has ever known. Let's all quit together and spend our money and time helping ourselves to become better citizens of the world. With addiction, we lose our ability to freely make choices. I long for my former freedom and I'm sure you do too. Nov. 19th is the date. Let's regain our original freedom from tobacco. Please join me in quitting smoking. Sincerely, President Obama."

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Smoking cessation program offers childhood cancer survivors help to quit the habit 

As health advocates gear up for this year's Great American Smokeout, childhood cancer survivors who need help with smoking cessation can receive free counseling and nicotine replacement therapy from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

As smokers nationwide struggle to quit the habit, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is offering assistance to those childhood cancer survivors who need help with smoking cessation.

Despite the known health risks of tobacco use, about 18 percent of adults who survived childhood cancer are smokers--an average almost equal to that of the general population. Childhood cancer survivors are more likely to develop second cancers and other conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Smoking adds to their health risks.

"The increase in survival rates for childhood cancer has been one of the most significant successes in cancer during the past three decades," said Robert Klesges, Ph.D., of the St. Jude Epidemiology and Cancer Control department. "However, few researchers have addressed the issue of smoking in cancer survivors. Because the population of childhood cancer survivors is growing each year, St. Jude sought an effective way to help these individuals."

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American Cancer Society Marks 34th Great American Smokeout  

As the official sponsor of birthdays, the American Cancer Society marks the 34th Great American Smokeout on November 19 by encouraging smokers to use the date to make a plan to quit, or to plan in advance and quit smoking that day. By doing so, smokers will be taking an important step towards a healthier life one that can lead to reducing cancer risk and creating more birthdays.

Researchers say that quitting smoking can increase life expectancy smokers who quit at age 35 gain an average of eight years of life expectancy; those who quit at age 55 gain about five years; and even long term smokers who quit at 65 gain three years . Smokers who want to quit can call the Hawaii Tobacco Quitline at 1-800-784-8669 for tobacco cessation and coaching services that can help increase their chances of quitting for good. . . .

OAHU

American Cancer Society GASO Events

Information and displays will be available for tobacco users who want to learn more information about quitting. Sites are available around the island including the following locations:

- Hawaii Medical Center East: Tuesday, November 17, 10 a.m. 2 p.m. . . .

Smoking prevalence by County

- Kauai, 13.1 percent

- Honolulu, 14.8 percent

- Maui, 16.5 percent

- Hawaii, 18.9 percent

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• P.M. UPDATE: Cherokee Nation sponsoring tobacco cessation events  

TAHLEQUAH -- In an effort to keep area residents healthy, Thursday, has been designated as Great American Smoke-out Day in the Cherokee Nation. In honor of the event, the tribe is offering classes and incentives to help smokers and tobacco users stop for at least one day.

Cherokee Nation Healthy Nation will be celebrating the day by offering free cessation kits and prizes to all who commit to stop smoking and using tobacco for at least one day. Resources

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Smokers can swap cigarettes for lunch during Smokeout 

Going cold turkey has new meaning.

Thursday is the 34th annual Great American Smokeout Challenge, which challenges smokers to go a day without tobacco and perhaps quit the habit altogether. Schools, businesses and health advocacy groups across the country have planned activities hoping to make the day as smoke free as possible.

Hillsborough County's Tobacco Free Partnership and local Honey Baked Ham Co. stores are challenging local residents to turn in their cigarettes in exchange for a coupon good for a "cold turkey" sandwich. They'll also get a survival kit with smoking cessation educational information.

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EDITORIAL: "Hey buddy, you got a smoke?" 

"Clearly, we've hit a wall in reducing adult smoking," a spokesman for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, told the Associated Press.

If that's the case, it is not for lack of trying. New laws and taxes -- the state cigarette tax rose again this year in New Jersey -- have made smoking more difficult and more expensive. Obviously, people should stop practicing a habit that is a definite health hazard, but there is only so much the government can do. Hopefully, the recent rise in smoking will prove to be an anomaly.

On Thursday of this week, the American Cancer Society-sponsored "Great American Smokeout" takes place. Sure, this is a gimmick, but if it encourages more people to eschew tobacco use, it is a good thing.

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DEAR ABBY: Wife uses sex as quit-smoking bribe 

Lung cancer leading cause of cancer death in women 

Blount Memorial Cancer Center Director Carmen McCloud says the Cancer Center had 86 female patients who suffered from lung cancer in the last two years. She said smoking caused 90 percent of those lung cancer cases. Thursday is Great American Smokeout Day, which is a good time to think about giving up tobacco products, she says.

"The Great American Smokeout is a day to stop smoking and change your life. On Thursday, free information on how to quit smoking will be available in the hospital's outpatient lobby between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.," McCloud adds.

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), within 20 minutes of quitting smoking, blood pressure drops to normal, pulse slows to normal and the temperature of your hands and feet increases to normal.

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MONSERRATE ANNOUNCES HEALTH AWARENESS OBSERVANCES 

State Senator Hiram Monserrate announced that Cancer and Alzheimer's awareness programs are scheduled during November. One of the highlights will be the American Cancer Society's Great American Smokeout on November 19, an event which challenges people to stop using tobacco. Monserrate said that during November, "We must renew our commitment to finding a cure [for Alzheimer's disease] while providing high quality and affordable treatment and prevention options."

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Smokeout: What would you do with 8 more years? 

In eight years, you could travel around the world, spoil your grandkids and - unless you're a Cubs fan - maybe even see your team win a World Series.

And to think those are years you could miss if you don't quit smoking before your hair turns gray.

About 21 percent of adults and nearly 19 percent of youths in Illinois are smokers, but those who quit by age 35 add an average of eight years to their life expectancy, according to the American Cancer Society.

Interested enough in living longer to give quitting a try?

Then circle Nov. 19 on your calendar, the date of the next Great American Smokeout. Participants are asked to try to get through at least that one day without smoking, then see how they feel and consider quitting for good. . . .

Get a free quit-smoking kit Nov. 19 while kits last at the following locations:

Champaign County:

American Cancer Society, 2509 S. Neil St., C.

Champaign Public Library, 202 W. Green St., C.

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Great American Smokeout --- November 19, 2009 

Although the United States has made great strides toward reducing the prevalence of smoking, approximately 46 million adults (20.6% of the population) still smoke (1), and every day, another 1,000 young persons become new smokers (2). Annually, smoking results in 440,000 deaths and $193 billion in health-care costs and lost productivity (3). November 19 marks the 33rd anniversary of the American Cancer Society's Great American Smokeout. This annual event challenges smokers to quit for at least 1 day and provides information resources to help them quit permanently.

Quitting smoking has immediate and long-term benefits

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