Quick Links: Skip to main page content Skip to Search Skip to Topics Menu Skip to Section Content Menu Skip to Common Links
  • Decrease font size
  • Return font size to normal
  • Increase font size
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Tobacco Products

  • Print
  • Share
  • E-mail
  • en Español en Español
-

Great American Smokeout 2012: It’s Your Day

November 15, 2012

woman outside looking upDo you consider yourself one of the nearly 70% of tobacco users who want to quit?1  If so, FDA invites you to join the American Cancer Society’s 37th Great American Smokeout disclaimer icon on November 15. 

This annual event aligns with one of FDA’s key goals to encourage those already addicted to tobacco products to quit.  With the regulation of tobacco products, the federal government, for the first time, brings previously unavailable, science-based information on its dangers to light. For example, FDA will be publishing new information about harmful and potentially harmful chemicals (HPHCs) in tobacco products to further educate Americans of the dangers of tobacco use. We have already published a list of HPHCs that includes chemicals such as carbon monoxide, lead and mercury.

 

Review the Facts on Tobacco Use

There are so many great reasons to quit; here are some facts about the dangers of tobacco to help you:

  • More than 1,200 people die each day in the United States from smoking – that is one person every 71 seconds.2 
  • The health consequences of tobacco use include heart disease, multiple types of cancer, lung disease, adverse reproductive effects, and the exacerbation of other chronic health conditions. In fact, a third of all cancer deaths in the United States are linked to tobacco use.3
  • Smoking causes more than 85% of lung cancers and causes disease in every organ system of the body.3

 

Make a Plan to Quit

Celebrate this Great American Smokeout by making a plan to quit and joining the millions of people who successfully live tobacco-free.  Find a friend or family member to join your quest, and spread the word that it’s never too late to quit! These credible resources can also help you quit and stay quit!

Remember, it’s never too late to quit, but the benefits are larger the earlier in life one quits. So it is important to keep trying until you are successful in quitting permanently. You can learn more about quitting by exploring BeTobaccoFree.gov.

 

Enter the American Cancer Society's Pinterest Contest for a chance to win Jet Blue vouchers!

Follow the @AmericanCancer disclaimer icon  Pinterest channel and “Pin It to Quit It”
You can participate by:

  1. Building a board titled “Be A Quitter” on your Pinterest channel.
  2. Re-pinning at least one of American Cancer Society’s “Be a Quitter” images from cancer.org to your board.
  3. Pinning at least 5 quit tips or inspirational messages of encouragement to help smokers quit.

 

Spread the Word

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Quitting Smoking Among Adults – United States 2001 -- 2010. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Atlanta: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Office on Smoking and Health, November 11, 2011.
2  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Smoking-Attributable Mortality, Years of Potential Life Lost, and Productivity Losses—United States, 2000–2004. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report Page 1. Atlanta: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Office on Smoking and Health, 2004.
3  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Health Consequences of Smoking: A Report of the Surgeon General. Atlanta: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health, 2004.

 

  

-
-