For each of the last 14 years, the American Cancer Society
(ACS) has sponsored the Great American Smokeout to focus
attention on tobacco use and encourage smokers to refrain from
smoking cigarettes for at least 24 hours. Local activities have
included requests by local ACS offices to stores to not sell
cigarettes for the day; media coverage of prominent local
citizens who have quit smoking; and implementation of a
smoke-free day by restaurants and other public places. In 1989,
approximately one third of all smokers (nearly 18 million
persons) participated in the Smokeout (1). Of these,
approximately 5.3 million did not smoke at all on the day of the
Smokeout, and an estimated 3.9 million refrained from smoking 1-3
days later. More than 85% of persons surveyed by the Gallup
Organization after the Smokeout had heard of the event (1).
By 1987, almost half of all living Americans who ever smoked
had quit. The proportion of persons who quit for at least 1 day
in the 12 months preceding national surveys increased from 27.8%
in 1978 to 31.5% in 1987 (2).
This year, the Smokeout will be held Thursday, November 15. The
goal is to ensure that at least one in every five smokers gives
up cigarettes for the 24-hour period. Additional information is
available from local offices of the ACS; phone numbers of the
local offices are available from the national office (telephone
(800) ACS-2345).
References
Lieberman Research Inc. A study of the impact of the 1989
Great American Smokeout: summary, Gallup Organization. New York:
American Cancer Society, 1989.
CDC. The health benefits of smoking cessation: a report of the
Surgeon General, 1990. Rockville, Maryland: US Department of
Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, 1990; DHHS
publication no. (CDC)90-8416.
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