The American Cancer Society marks the Great American Smokeout on the third Thursday of November each year by encouraging smokers to use the date to make a plan to quit, or to plan in advance and quit smoking that day. By quitting — even for one day — smokers will be taking an important step towards a healthier life – one that can lead to reducing cancer risk.
Tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the United States, yet about 37.8 million American-15.5 percent of all Americans- still smoke cigarettes.
Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States, accounting for 29% of all cancer deaths. Nearly 12,000 people die in Georgia every year from tobacco-related illnesses—that’s more than all the deaths from alcohol, cocaine, heroin, AIDS, murder, suicide, auto accidents and fires combined. In spite of these chilling statistics, approximately 18 percent of Georgia adults smoke. In 2017, 12.8% of Georgia high school students smoked cigarettes.
The Tobacco Quit Line is a resource to help Georgians quit using tobacco. Quit coaches improve the chances of quitting by fifty percent. They provide free counseling, a resource library, support and referral services for tobacco users. It is available for all Georgia residents age 13 or older. The Tobacco Quit Line is funded by the master tobacco settlement through the state’s Tobacco Use Prevention Section in partnership with the Georgia Cancer Coalition. It has no commercial bias and no products to promote. As a caller, you will receive free, professional support that’s tailored to your needs.
At the Quit Line, a counselor conducts an initial interview with a caller to determine tobacco usage and willingness to quit. An assessment is made based on the caller’s needs and multiple options are presented. Callers will receive a customized quit plan, including up to five additional counseling phone calls. Up-todate information about physician-recommended pharmacological support, such as nicotine gum, nicotine patches, and other items are available. A Tobacco Quit Kit, including materials tailored to the caller’s readiness to quit is also available.
So stop smoking and start dialing: call the Tobacco Quit Line at 1-877-270-STOP.
This article originally appeared in the November issue of EAST COBBER, on page 41. Click here to view the digital edition.
