Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Great American Smokeout Is Thursday

The American Cancer Society's Great American Smokeout will be 20 years old on Thursday, November 21.

For two decades, the staff and volunteers of the American Cancer Society have used the Great American Smokeout to help smokers quit cigarettes for at least one day.

In a new twist to an old problem, the American Cancer Society is focusing efforts on children and teenagers, because most smokers start before they reach the age of 18. By helping young people resist starting to smoke in the first place, the American Cancer Socitey hopes that future generations will not have to struggle to break an addiction to nicotine.

Since the inception of the Great American Smokeout, the smoking rate of American adults has dropped from 36% to 25%. Unfortunately, an estimated 177,000 new cases of lung cancer are expected to be diagnosed by the end of 1996. Another estimated 158,7000 Americans will have died from lung cancer during 1996.

The Great America Smokeout is a time for Arkansans to renuew their commitment to a smoke-free environment for themselves and for the children.

For Great American Smokeout activities in your areas, call 1-800-227-2345.