If you think this holiday is about barbeque, then you’d be mistaken. While it sounds like a great barbeque competition, it’s about a challenge for people all over the United States to quit smoking. As 40 million adults still smoke yearly, this is a day to either start the first day of smoking or gives them an opportunity towards making a plan to quit smoking for good. If you want to know how to take part in this holiday, the read more to learn about its history and how you can begin the end of smoking.
The first Great American Smokeout started back in 1970, where it began as a series of smaller initiatives. In Randolph, Massachusetts, Arthur P. Mullaney, a guidance counselor for the Randolph High School, suggested a day where people stop smoking and organized an event where people instead of spending their money on cigarettes would donate their money so they can form college scholarships. Using the tagline ‘Light up a Student’s Future, Not a Cigarette’, the first held event happened in 1972 and brought in $4,500 dollars in donations. Each year the donations increased and the holiday spread. The next state to take on the holiday was Minnesota, when Lynn R. Smith, an editor of the Monticello Times, launched an initiative called D-Day, which stood for Don’t Smoke Day.
From there, the California Division of the American Cancer Society adopted this holiday in 1976 and has since been successfully helping over one million smokers quit for the day. Since then, the American Cancer Society annually holds fundraising events, taking in donations, and helping smokers all over the country get the resources they need to quit smoking. The American Cancer Society provides factual information for smokers, such as the possible future health problems that could exist and the stories of smokers who have quitted and plan to quit so a community could form and people’s lives can be saved.
If you’re thinking about quitting, why not team up with the thousands of other smokers who are planning to use the Great American Smokeout. Volunteer for a fundraising event. Donate money to the cause. You can also use the American Cancer Society’s resources to quit smoking for good and install a yearly plan to keep you away from tobacco products. Also, if you love this holiday, share the news of it on your favorite social media websites by using the hashtag #greatamericansmokeout.
This new law placed specific restrictions on marketing tobacco products to children.
San Francisco was the first city to pass restrictions banning smoking in private workplaces.
San Francisco held the first Great American Smokeout. From here, many other cities followed suit and the day became more widely celebrated.
Throughout the '70s, people began to think about smoking differently as the negative effects became more widely known. People also started movements encouraging others to quit.
The Great American Smokeout occurs annually on the third Thursday of November, meaning it lands on November 21 this year.
Though the first recorded effort to get a group of people to stop smoking for a day happened in 1970 Massachusetts, the first nationwide Great American Smokeout occurred in 1977.
The Academy Award-winning actress smoked frequently as a teen and didn't decide to quit until she was pregnant with her first child.
The former president quit with the help of Nicorette gum, hoping to set a good example for his daughters.
The "Friends" star quit smoking successfully by turning to yoga and other exercise to keep her mind off of cigarettes.
The actress admitted she used cigarettes as a way to slim down for her role in "Black Swan," but has since given up the habit.
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It's the perfect day to remove all smoking-related items from your home. Remove all cigarettes, ashtrays, and lighters from your car and workplace as well. Also consider stocking up on substitutes like gum and crunchy snacks.
If you've tried to quit before, the Great American Smokeout is a good time to reflect on your past attempts. Think about why those attempts didn't work, and go back to the drawing board for the next time around.
The Great American Smokeout highlights the dangers of smoking tobacco and provides a meaningful way for people to avoid cigarettes. It also offers a comfortable environment for family members and friends to speak about tobacco and how to quit smoking.
Not only does the Great American Smokeout speak to the negative effects of smoking, but it also helps people come together in the name of quitting. People trying to quit can communicate with one another online using the hashtag #GreatAmericanSmokeout, or by attending local events in various cities.
The American Cancer Society's Great American Smokeout website provides resources, news, and stories about the journey to quit smoking. Smokers can find inspiration and tips to increase their chances of quitting successfully.