Great American Smokeout Draws Varied Responses From Those Who Still Light Up

By Nancy K. Crevier

On Thursday, November 16, millions of smokers drew a deep breath of fresh air, taking part in the American Cancer Society’s (ACS) annual Great American Smokeout. For 30 years, The ACS has designated the third Thursday of November as a day for smokers across the country to kick their smoking habit.

The purpose of the Great American Smokeout is to encourage smokers to quit or to smoke less, and to provide information about the dangers of smoking, about programs that support those wanting to quit, and about smoke-free legislation. According to the ACS, more than 45 million Americans use tobacco regularly, with 10 to 20 million of those users expected to die of tobacco-related illnesses.

There are positive advantages to quitting smoking, and foremost among them is increased longevity, regardless of how long a smoker has been addicted or the age of the smoker. Just 20 minutes after quitting, the heart rate and blood pressure drop, and in just 12 hours the carbon monoxide levels in the bloodstream return to normal. The risk of coronary disease is cut to half that of a smoker’s after one year, and five years after the last cigarette is puffed the stroke risk is on par with that of a nonsmoker.

Women who are able to stop the smoking habit before they become pregnant or within the first trimester are no more likely than a nonsmoker to have a low-weight baby.

Ex-smokers reduce the risk of lung and other cancers, and chronic diseases of the heart and lungs.

Quitting smoking is good not only for the cough but the coffers, as well. Local smokers feel fortunate if a carton of cigarettes — ten packs — costs only $33. For the two pack-a-day smoker, that means a savings of nearly $200 a month.

But quitting is not an easy task, even for one day. Smoking is a physically and psychologically addictive habit, comparable to heroin, amphetamine, or cocaine addiction.

Alisa Lyons has made several attempts to stop smoking over the 20-plus years she has indulged in the habit. She has utilized the Great American Smokeout day to jump start quitting more than once, but has not made it beyond one day. The Great American Smokeout is a great thing, said Ms Lyons, but added, “I actually haven’t heard that much about it the last couple of years. A while back, it was all over the news and in ads, everywhere.” The thing about designating one day to stop smoking, she said, is, “You can’t just wake up and decide to not smoke anymore on one day. You have to want to stop.”

Other tries were successful for up to several months, mainly, she believes, because she really put her mind around quitting. But she has always returned to smoking. “It’s totally a psychological thing,” she said. “I missed it when I tried to quit. I missed the habit.”

This may be the year that the Smokeout leads to success, though, she said. Her plans for November 16 included making use of a nicotine patch, one of several aides available to help smokers overcome the nicotine craving. “I would like to quit,” she said. “I think everyone [who smokes] should stop.”

On the other hand, Bridget Seaman harbors no deep desire to stop smoking. She is a longtime smoker, having picked up the habit 30 years ago. “Quitting is always a thought in the back of my mind,” she said, but she has never taken part in the Great American Smokeout, nor did she plan to take part in 2006. “I know [smoking] is bad, it’s expensive, and I would never recommend anybody start smoking,” she said, “but the Great American Smokeout is of no influence to me at all.”

As a smoker, she feels that the Smokeout day is just another reason for nonsmokers to look down upon those who smoke. “I respect people,” said Ms Seaman. “I have no problem not smoking at work or in other people’s homes. I do resent being treated like a leper, though.”

Ms Seaman summed up her reasons for not embracing the Great American Smokeout, saying, “Smoking is a nasty, horrible, wonderful, soothing habit. It’s a real love/hate relationship.”

For smoker Kristen Angell, it is not so much the feeling of being a social outcast as the desire to lead a healthier lifestyle that is the impetus to quit. She hoped that by embracing the Great American Smokeout this year that she could put her habit behind her once and for all.

“I’ve tried to quit two other times, the first time for two weeks, the second time for a month. I’m going to try again,” she said. The Great American Smokeout makes the people who are trying to quit feel not so alone that day, said Ms Angell, and she hoped that keeping that in mind would help ease the transition for her.

A 13-year smoker, Ms Angell said she has a better understanding of the downside of quitting this time around. “I felt unbalance when I quit before, grumpier, not myself.” This time she has prepared herself to struggle through the feeling of disorientation, as well as having accepted the fact that she will put on some weight. “I eat more when I don’t smoke. But a few extra pounds is healthier than no lungs.”

Ms Angell has another motivation for joining in the Great American Smokeout this year: “I promised myself I would quit smoking before my 29th birthday, and that’s next week.”

For more information on quitting smoking contact the American Cancer Society at 800-ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.