Tennessee Attorney General Bob Cooper encourages Tennesseans to pledge to be smoke-free on Thursday, Nov. 15, which marks the 37th celebration of the Great American Smokeout Day.The American Cancer Society established this event in 1977 to educate the public on the dangers associated with tobacco use and to encourage smokers to quit for a lifetime by starting with just one day. The event is held annually on the third Thursday of November. Tobacco use remains the number one preventable cause of disease and premature death within the United States.
This year, the Attorney General’s Office is teaming up with the Tennessee Health Department and Metropolitan Nashville Department of Public Health to host “Kick the Habit” stations. Smokers are encouraged to stop by one of these stations and pick up a quit pack, which is full of cessation goodies that will help assist the smoker’s attempt to quit smoking. In addition, smokers willing to trash their cigarettes and pledge to quit for at least the day can trade in their cigarettes for a prize. “Kick the Habit” stations will be located at the Margaret Maddox YMCA (8 am-10 am), the Donelson YMCA (10 am-12 pm), and the downtown YMCA (4 pm-7 pm). There will also be stations on various college campuses and hospitals around downtown Nashville.
“We are pleased to take part in this important event designed to help save lives,” Attorney General Cooper said. “We hope Tennesseans will take this opportunity to either stop smoking or help others quit the dangerous habit.”
Tennesseans who smoke may take advantage of a powerful resource to help them quit tobacco use: the Tennessee Tobacco Quitline. This free service offers personalized support through a quit coach who will help design an individualized plan to stop using tobacco. It only takes a phone call to begin living a healthier life free from tobacco. The Tennessee Tobacco Quitline can be reached toll-free at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669). To learn more information about the Tennessee Tobacco Quitline, go to the Tennessee Department of Health’s website at: http://heath.state.tn.us/tobaccoquitline.htm.
