The Great American Smokeout

For over 40 years the American Cancer Society has hosted the Great American Smokeout on the third Thursday of November, this year that date is November 16th. This is an opportunity for those who smoke to make a commitment to give up smoking for at least the day with the hope of giving it up long term.

The idea for the Great American Smokeout came from an event held in Randolph, MA in 1970. Arthur Mullaney asked people to give up cigarettes for the day and to donate the money they would have spent to a scholarship fund. Word got out about this event and in 1976 on November 18th, the California Division of the American Cancer Society started a campaign that got approximately 1 million people to quit for that day. In 1977, the American Cancer Society took it nationwide to stomp out smoking.

Smoking, as many people know, has been a long-standing threat to people’s health. Our founding fathers as early as 1632 adopted the first smoking ban and this happened to have occurred in Massachusetts. Massachusetts General Court banned smoking in public places. The history of smoking and regulations dates back to the 1600’s and spans through centuries, with the taxing of tobacco and establishing age restrictions. Throughout the 1980’s and 1990’s many states have banned smoking in and around public places, we have raised taxes on cigarettes and have curbed advertising for smoking and even have programs in place for youth to understand the dangers of smoking early.

The Lynnfield Health Department conducts bi-yearly compliance checks and education to retailers that are licensed to sell tobacco. These checks include inspection of products being sold, assuring the proper signage, indicating that they will not sell to under 21 years of age and to make sure the signage is visible. Those looking to purchase will have to present proper identification. The Health Department also responds to reports of retailers selling illegally. If found to be selling illegally, the retailer is fined with each offense the fine becomes larger, if the transactions continue to occur, their license may be suspended and, in some cases revoked.

The Great American Smokeout is aimed at preventing chronic illness and even death due to the impacts of smoking. The Lynnfield Health Department would encourage anyone looking to extinguish their last cigarette, to take part in the Great American Smokeout, November 16th. Lung cancer is the leading cause of death in the United States, let’s lower that statistic by stomping out smoking! If you need help quitting there are many resources available, some are listed below.