The Great American Smokeout is Thursday, November 16
The annual Great American Smokeout is scheduled for Thursday, November 16, 2023. This event, sponsored by the American Cancer Society, encourages people who currently smoke to quit - even if it' is just for one day. There are a few different ways to observe the Great American Smokeout including:
Make a plan. Learn about your options to curb cravings and get the support you need to help you through tough times on your quit journey. If you are trying to help someone else quit, check out tips to make sure you are doing it the right way.
Get rid of anything smoking-related. The Great American Smokeout is the perfect day to remove all smoking-related items from your home. Remove all cigarettes, ashtrays, and lighters from your home, car, and workplace. Also consider stocking up on substitutes to help you quit such as gum.
Reflect on your smoking past. If you have tried to quit before, the Great American Smokeout can be a good time to reflect on your past attempts. Think about what worked and what didn’t.
Luckily there are more effective tools than ever before to help people quit. Some of these tools and resources to help Wisconsinites quit tobacco use include:
The Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line provides free help and medications to those who call the line at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (784-8669). Individuals looking for quit assistance can also access the Quit Line by texting “READY” to 200-440.
The Medicaid program provides free quit smoking services and medications through it’s cessation benefit. People enrolled in Medicaid are encouraged to talk to their doctor about the resources available through the program.
The American Indian Quit Line provides American Indians free, culturally-tailored help and medications to quit commercial tobacco to those who call the line at 1-888-7AI-QUIT.
Pregnant, postpartum, and caregiving people who smoke, as well as their family members, can get help to quit from the Wisconsin Women’s Health Foundation’s First Breath program. Since 2001, the program has helped over 24,000 women across the state. Learn more at www.joinfirstbreath.org.
Teens who are addicted to e-cigarettes can receive free help through the Live Vape Free program by texting “VAPEFREE” to 873373. The program provides participants with interactive resources to help them determine their motivations for quitting and setting a quit date. Adults who want to support a young person trying to quit e-cigarettes can take part in a free online course from Live Vape Free by visiting www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/vapefree.
There are many benefits to quitting smoking, including some that start almost immediately. Within 2 weeks after you quit, your lung function and circulation will start to improve. Within 1 month, you will start coughing less and breathing easier. And within 1 year, your risk of heart disease is cut in half. Quitting can be hard, but the reward is large! Start your quit journey today!
