Louisiana’s Tobacco-Free Living Campaign Empowers Smokers To Quit For 24 Hours this November 17th
Promoting health and wellness among smokers is an important affair and the Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living (TFL) wants to spread awareness about The Great American Smokeout (GASO) on November 17th. This day is meant to challenge smokers to quit for 24 hours and encourage them to continue the journey toward a healthy, smoke-free life.
More than 400,000 people die each year in the United States due to smoking-related illnesses, and Louisiana has the highest prevalence of lung cancer in the country. Seven cities in the state ranked amongst the 50 cities in the US with the most smokers. Ranking at 41 is Lake Charles; at 38, Shreveport-Bossier City; at 36, Lafayette; at 35, Alexandria; at 28, Hammond; at 13, Monroe; and at 12, Houma-Thibodaux, according to a study by the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a joint program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.
GASO is a national day observed yearly on the third Thursday of November and TFL wants to draw attention to the campaign by providing support to those beginning their cessation journey with the help of Quit With Us, Louisiana.
The Great American Smokeout is observed to raise awareness about the devastating effects of tobacco products and to provoke conversations that lead to legislative actions. Throughout the years, state and municipal regulations have been implemented across the nation, and according to the American Cancer Society, cigarette smoking has decreased from 42% to 16% since 1965 as result of those policies, media campaigns, and the increases in the prices of tobacco products.
