Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Great American Smoke Out set for Thursday

StarJournalNow.com

Trying to quit smoking is not easy.  The American Cancer Society estimates it takes between eight to 10 attempts for the average person to kick the habit.

When trying to quit, support can make all the difference. That’s why the Cancer Society holds its the annual Great American Smoke Out.

 

This year’s Great American Smoke Out is Thursday, and Fred Gatto of Delaware’s Division of Public Health says it has an impact.   

 

Each year, thousands of people across the county use the Great American Smoke Out as their date to quit and Gatto

 

"The Great American Smoke Out is actually a program, or initiative, by the American Cancer Society that began in the early 1970’s. They use it as a day to promote for smokers to quit smoking and it’s kind of gained in popularity. They do it every third-Thursday of November,” said Gatto.

 

Gatto adds the push to get people to quit remains crucial.

 

"Smoking is the leading cause of preventable deaths in the United States and the world. So, it’s important to have some information out there for people to try and quit smoking...I should say (quit) tobacco use, whether it’s cigarettes or other tobacco products, so they can hopefully quit and help themselves prevent chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer.”

Delaware’s rate of cigarette use continues to decline. Cigarette smoking by adults in the First State dropped again to an all-time low of 17.7 percent, according to the 2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Survey. But total tobacco use among Delaware adults in 2016 still stood at 24.2 percent or approximately one in four Delawareans.  

If you or someone you care about smokes, DPH says help is available to quit by calling the Delaware Quitline (1-866-409-1858).

 

Kelli Steele has over 30 years of experience covering news in Delaware, Baltimore, Winchester, Virginia, Phoenix, Arizona and San Diego, California.