The Great American Smokeout

By Michael Weilert

What is the Great American Smokeout?

• Annual event on the third Thursday of every November.

• Nationwide opportunity for those interested in quitting smoking to find support.

• Founded in 1976 in California.

What does it do?

• Encourages people to quit smoking, whether it’s for the rest of their lives or just one day.

• Raises awareness on the role that smoking plays in death and chronic disease.

• Disseminated through volunteers in local towns and communities who organize various events.

Cold Turkey

• As a nod to the event, cafeterias across the country offer “cold turkey” on the menu.

What has changed?

• When Smokeouts first started, nearly half of Americans smoked. That number has since been more than halved.

• Various workplaces and public places across the US are currently smoke-free.

• Nonetheless, an estimated 1 in 5 Americans smoke cigarettes.

Tips for quitting

• Clear places where you typically smoke of anything that reminds you of cigarettes (lighters, ashtrays, etc.).

• Clean your car and house to get rid of the smell of cigarettes.

• Avoid places where smokers hang out.

• Ask smokers to not smoke around them.