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Since 1977, the American Cancer Society (ACS) has sponsored
the Great American Smokeout to promote communitywide antismoking
activities that encourage smokers to refrain from smoking
cigarettes for at least 24 hours. Local activities for this
national event have included provision of materials to businesses,
hospitals, schools, and other organizations that wish to conduct
antismoking activities; requests by local ACS offices that stores
not sell cigarettes for the day; media coverage of prominent local
citizens who have stopped smoking; and participation by restaurants
and other public places in a smoke-free day. In 1990, nearly 19
million persons--almost 40% of all smokers in the United
States--participated in the Smokeout (1), an increase of 1 million
participants from 1989 (2).
During the 1990 Smokeout, approximately 7.4 million (15%) of
the nation's smokers refrained from smoking, and 11.5 million (23%)
reduced the number of cigarettes smoked. Approximately 4.9 million
(10%) smokers were not smoking 1-3 days later. More whites (85%)
had heard about the Smokeout than had blacks and Hispanics (65%);
however, 25% of black and Hispanic smokers and 14% of white smokers
refrained from smoking on the day of the Smokeout. About 14% of
black and Hispanic smokers and 9% of white smokers were not smoking
1-3 days later (1).
This year, the Smokeout will be on Thursday, November 21. The
goal is to help at least 20% of smokers give up smoking for the
24-hour period. Additional information is available from local
offices of the ACS; for telephone numbers of the local offices,
telephone (800) 227-2345.
Reported by: L Hurt, American Cancer Society, Atlanta. Office on
Smoking and Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention
and Health Promotion, CDC.
References
Lieberman Research Inc. A study of the impact of the 1990 Great
American Smokeout: summary, Gallup Organization. New York: American
Cancer Society, 1990.
Lieberman Research Inc. A study of the impact of the 1989 Great
American Smokeout: summary, Gallup Organization. New York: American
Cancer Society, 1989.
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