CHARLESTON, W.Va. — According to the American Cancer Society 70 percent of people who smoke would like to quit. Thursday would be the day to get it done with some emotional support. The 46th annual Great American Smokeout is Thursday, sponsored by American Cancer Society’s Cancer Action Network.
“This is a day designated for folks who are thinking about quitting, to go ahead and use the Great American Smokeout as a day to quit, or to at least make a plan to quit,” said Kristy Young, Government Relations Director for the American Cancer Society in West Virginia.
The event comes on the heels of a report this week from the American Lung Association which found West Virginia to be almost the worst state in America for smoking, lung cancer, and poor early detection of lung cancer. The statistics with smoking in West Virginia have always been poor, but Young believed changes in legislation could help.
“We need to focus on legislation that’s evidence based to really reduce tobacco use rates,” she explained.
The ACS has long advocated increased tobacco taxes as a deterrent to smoking.
“We know increasing the cigarette tax and tobacco tax can make a change in tobacco use behavior. We also know increasing funding for tobacco prevention and cessation programs is an evidenced based way to help folks quit,” she said.
Over the years, the Great American Smokeout has helped many kick the habit, or at least try to kick the habit.
“The fact we use the Great American Smokeout every year for folks to make a plan is useful,” she said.