It Takes a Community: The Great American Smokeout 2022

Smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States. Almost 70% of adults who smoke report that they want to quit, and almost 60% of 15-24 year olds report wanting to quit vaping within the year. To support those who want to quit, the American Cancer Society hosts the Great American Smokeout on the third Thursday of November each year.

Although traditional combustible cigarette use has been on the decline, youth e-cigarette use has increased significantly in the past ten years. Kimberly Leiva-Sorto, a senior at South Garner High School and member of the Poe Center Youth Empowerment Team shares, “One of the things that concerns me most is how many of my peers still don’t know what is actually in a vape, some of them think it’s water vapor.” Learn about what is really in a vape here. There is more education needed on the harmful effects of e-cigarettes use both to the individual using and on the secondhand effects to prevent initial use.

Once someone starts using tobacco products, quitting is not easy. Nicotine is the highly addictive drug found naturally in tobacco and is found in both cigarettes and e-cigarettes. The younger a person is when they first try an addictive substance, the easier it is for addiction to take hold. As the brain is still developing, it is easier for an addictive substance, such as nicotine, to trick and rewire the brain into thinking the body needs the substance to survive. It begins to feel similar to how the body needs food or water.

It takes a coordinated effort to support those who want to quit. Successful cessation, or quitting, includes easy access to resources, support from friends and family, evidence-based treatment, and an environment that supports cessation. Combining counseling and nicotine replacement therapy medications can more than double the chances of successfully quitting. In person counseling, text messaging, and web-based cessation interventions can help in addition.

There are resources to support both teens and adults in tobacco cessation efforts. If you or a loved one need help to quit smoking, visit QuitlineNC or call 1-800-QUIT-NOW. QuitlineNC provides resources, tools, and tips for those on the path to quitting smoking including free cessation services and coaching. Another great resource for teens is a text-based cessation support accessed by texting DITCHVAPE to 88709. Other resources include SmokeFreeTeen where both teens and parents can find information and resources to quit vaping. A great resource for parents is How to Talk to Your Child About Vaping from the American Lung Association.

Help those around you who want to quit by sharing resources and letting them know you support them. The American Cancer Society has a saying, “You don’t have to stop in one day, but you can start quitting in one day.”

Additional Resources

• The Great American Smokeout. American Cancer Society.
• Talk with your Teen About E.Cigarettes: A Tip Sheet for Parents. Office of the Surgeon General.
• How to Quit Vaping. SmokeFree.gov.
• Health Benefits of Quitting Over Time. Cancer.org.
• QuitlineNC

SmokeFree.gov offers these tips as you manage the nicotine withdrawal.

• Talk to your doctor or another healthcare professional about your plans to quit.
• Drink plenty of water throughout the day.
• Make sleep a priority.
• Exercise, and eat healthy snacks. Learn about healthy eating, exercising, and gardening by following the Poe Center’s #PoeFit campaign on Twitter.
• Get support from friends and family.
• Build your quit plan.

Featured Poe Program – Vaping 101

Participants: Middle and High School students
Program Length: 60 minutes