The American Cancer Society marks the Great American Smokeout on the third Thursday of November each year by encouraging smokers to quit that day or to develop a plan to quit smoking. By doing so, smokers will be taking an important step towards a healthier life.
This year’s Great American Smokeout will be observed on Thursday November 15th.
Tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in Michigan, killing more than 16,200 residents each year. 20.4% of Michigan adults smoke cigarettes, 10.5% of Michigan high school students smoke cigarettes, and another 14.8% of these kids use e-cigarettes. Each year, 4,400 Michigan kids become new, daily smokers. Thirty percent (30%) of cancer deaths in Michigan are attributable to cigarette smoking.
Tobacco products are highly addictive. Therefore, most users make several quit attempts before they are successful. However, there are proven resources available to help tobacco users quit. Quitters are most successful when using a combination of therapies, including resources such as nicotine replacement, counseling, self-help materials, and a strong support network of family and friends.
Quitting tobacco use is the single best thing you can do for your health. The positive effects on health are both short and long term, and quitting benefits everyone, regardless of age. According to the American Cancer Society, the body begins to recover within minutes of quitting smoking. Heart rate and blood pressure drops, and within 12 hours carbon monoxide levels in blood return to normal. Benefits continue over time, including improved circulation and lung function, reduced risk of coronary heart disease and reduced risk of cancer.
The Michigan Tobacco Quitline is an evidence-based service that continues to provide free telephone coaching for the uninsured, pregnant women, residents enrolled in Medicaid and Medicare, veterans, cancer patients, and American Indians, and free nicotine replacement therapy to those who qualify. The Quitline provides services including materials, text messaging, and referral to all Michigan residents. New this year is an online, interactive coaching program option. The same program that is available on the phone can now be done online with the Quitline’s specially trained web coaches.
Providers can refer their patients and clients to the Quitline, and individual tobacco users can contact the Quitline directly at 1-800-784-8669, or enroll online at https://michigan.quitlogix.org/ . Additional information, including a fax referral form for providers, is available at the website. Staff and providers in all health care settings can refer patients and clients to the Michigan Tobacco Quitline.
For more information about the Michigan Tobacco Quitline visit https://michigan.quitlogix.org/.
For resources and information about the Great American Smokeout, visit the American Cancer Society’s Web site at https://www.cancer.org/content/cancer/en/healthy/stay-away-from-tobacco/great-american-smokeout.html.
