Great American Smokeout celebrates 20th birthday

A L S O CNNfn - Cashing in on butt-ing out

November 21, 1996
Web posted at: 12:30 p.m. EST

(CNN) -- The 20th annual Great American Smokeout was under way Thursday as smokers across the nation were urged to nip the habit in the butt.

The American Cancer Society, which sponsors the Smokeout, planned several events Thursday aimed at getting people to quit smoking -- or not to start in the first place.

In East Rutherford, New Jersey, 10,000 middle school students were taking part in the Great American Smoke Scream. In Washington state, hundreds of students were competing for the "Loudest Scream" and "Funniest Scream." The message: Exhale, not inhale.

Spreading the message to children and teen-agers is crucial. More than 1 million children and teen-agers will start smoking this year, and one-third of them will die from their addiction, the American Cancer Society says.

The Smokeout began in 1976 as a special day set aside for smokers to extinguish their cigarettes. In the years since, anti-smoking regulations have become widespread -- with smoking banned in many public buildings, restaurants, planes, trains, buses and workplaces.

And through the years, the Smokeout's message has evolved from "Lola smoked, Lola quit. You can, too" to today's "I feel like I'm sucking on an exhaust pipe." (1.3M/30 sec. QuickTime movie)

Experts, including John Nydam who runs a cessation program, say days like the Smokeout are important in helping motivate people to quit smoking. (97K/9 sec. AIFF or WAV sound)

How to quit is another matter. From the nicotine patch to gum, different approaches work for different people, said Dr. Michael Thun of the American Cancer Society.

And for those who attempt to quit today but fail, experts say not to give up, for it typically takes four or five attempts to drop the habit for good.

Medical Correspondent Rhonda Rowland and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

Special section:

• Tobacco Under Attack

Related stories:

• New ways of taking on teen smoking - November 7, 1996
• Cigarette tar directly linked to cancer - October 17, 1996
• Can lung test predict cancer? - October 9, 1996

Related sites:

• American Cancer Society
  • The Great American Smokeout
  • The Great American Smoke Scream
  • Smoking-related links
• Tobacco BBS
• Blair's Quit Smoking Resource Pages
• The Master Anti-Smoking Page
• Friends of Tobacco
• FORCES: Fight Ordinances and Restrictions to Control and Eliminate Smoking (United States)
• FORCES (Canada)

Related newsgroups:

• alt.support.stop-smoking
• alt.smokers

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