Quit Now Quit Now
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The annual Great American Smokeout encourages smokers to quit. There are now more options than ever to help you quit.

November 15, 2007, marks the American Cancer Society’s 31st annual Great American Smokeout, an event to encourage cigarette smokers to quit smoking. In 2006, approximately 45.3 million (one in five) U.S. adults were current smokers. People who continue to smoke have a 50% chance of dying from a smoking-related disease. The good news is that there are now more options than ever to help someone quit. Smokers who use effective cessation aids such as over-the-counter and prescription medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration and behavioral coaching (e.g., individual, group or telephone) can increase their likelihood of quitting permanently. All 50 states, the District of Columbia, and certain U.S. territories have quitlines that can be reached at 800-QUIT-NOW (800-784-8669).

Other interventions that increase the odds of successful cessation include implementing sustained media campaigns to prevent youth from starting to smoke and help current smokers quit, reducing patient out-of-pocket treatment costs, increasing the retail price of tobacco products, and establishing smoke-free environments.

Five Keys for Quitting Smoking
Studies have shown that these five steps will help you quit and quit for good. You have the best chances of quitting if you use them together.

Get ready.

Get support and encouragement.

Learn new skills and behaviors.

Get medication and use it correctly.

Be prepared for relapse or difficult situations.

Information on the Great American Smokeout is available from the American Cancer Society* or by telephone: 800-227-2345.

Advice on how to quit smoking is available at www.smokefree.gov and www.cdc.gov/tobacco.


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