Since 1977, the American Cancer Society (ACS) has sponsored
the Great American Smokeout to foster community-based activities
that encourage smokers to stop smoking for at least 24 hours. This
year, the Great American Smokeout is Thursday, November 21. The
primary goal of this year's event is to prevent initiation of
tobacco use among children and adolescents.
Most smokers began smoking as teenagers (1); each day,
approximately 6000 young persons try a cigarette and approximately
3000 become daily smokers (Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration, unpublished data, 1994). Among persons who
have ever smoked daily, 82% began smoking before age 18 years (1).
In August 1996, the Executive Branch of the federal government
announced the nation's first comprehensive program to prevent
children and adolescents from smoking cigarettes or using smokeless
tobacco (2).
Events this year will include a program to encourage high
school-aged children to sign a Great American Smokeout pledge
promising to stay smoke-free or to try to quit smoking during the
Great American Smokeout. In addition, ACS volunteers will conduct
smoking-cessation and -prevention activities for persons of all
ages at shopping malls, worksites, hospitals, military
installations, and other locations.
Additional information is available from the ACS, telephone
(800) 227-2345 or (404) 320-3333; CDC, telephone (800) 232-1311 or
(770) 488-5705; or the ACS Great American Smokeout website on the
World Wide Web (http://www. cancer.org).
Reported by: American Cancer Society, Atlanta. Office on Smoking
and Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and
Health Promotion, CDC.
References
US Department of Health and Human Services. Preventing tobacco
use among young people: a report of the Surgeon General.
Atlanta:
US Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health
Service,
CDC, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health
Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health, 1994.
Food and Drug Administration. Regulations restricting the sale
and distribution of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco to protect
children and adolescents: final rule. Federal Register
1996;61:44396-5318.
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