LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Nationally the third Thursday in November is known as the Great American Smoke Out Day. This year the date falls on Thursday, Nov. 18th. The annual day of observance is an opportunity to shed light on smoking as the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., and high-light its many adverse health and economic implications.
More than 400,000 smokers in the U.S. die from tobacco use, and another 50,000 nonsmokers die from secondhand smoke exposure. According to the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, smoking kills more people than alcohol, AIDS, car accidents, illegal drugs, murders, and suicides combined. “We’re proud to support the national Great American Smoke-Out Day each year,” said Katherine Donald, executive director of the Coalition for a Tobacco Free Arkansas. “Our hope is that smokers, vapers, premium cigar users, etc. across Arkansas will join with millions of others around the country on November 18th to make a pledge to quit for, at least, one-day, with hope the pledge will inspire a journey toward a smoke-free life.
“We know the sooner a smoker start the quit journey, the soon their body can start the recovery process…Just 20 minutes after the last cigarette, a smoker’s heart rate and blood pressure drops. In just 12 hours after the last puff, the carbon monoxide level in a smoker’s blood drops to normal”. “The most important step if the first step,” said Donald.
Communities all across Arkansas are invited to join us by attending our virtual webinar in recognition of November 18th as the Great American Smoke Out 2021. Register in advance for this webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_RZ7PYY38T22pA7sJOLXwSQ
The Coalition for a Tobacco Free Arkansas is a network of statewide organizations with a shared mission to prevent the use of tobacco in Arkansas. It has worked since its inception in January 1992 to improve the health of Arkansans by waging a grassroots campaign to increase public awareness of the negative effects of tobacco use.
For more information about the Coalition for a Tobacco free Arkansas, visit www.arfreshair.com. For help quitting tobacco, call the National Tobacco Quit-line at 1-800-QUIT-NOW or contact the Arkansas Department of Health, Be Well Arkansas Program
