Hot Topic: Great American Smokeout

On November 16th take part in the American Cancer Society's Great American Smokeout by smoking less or quitting for the day, or encourage your friends or family members to quit for the day. “The Smokeout is one day of the year to take charge and try and quit,” said Dr. Douglas Skelton, Health Director for the Coastal Health District. “It is one day towards a healthier you.”

In honor of the Smokeout, tobacco users can drop off their tobacco related products throughout the Coastal Health District.

Camden County
Drop off tobacco related products from 8:00am– 5:00pm at any of the following local locations:

Camden County Health Department - Kingsland
600 North Charles Gillman Jr. Avenue, Kingsland

Camden County Health Department - St. Marys
905 Dilworth Street, St. Marys

Camden County Courthouse – Woodbine
Courthouse Square, Woodbine

Register to win a gift certificate for a Thanksgiving dinner, donated by Winn Dixie. Smokeout is sponsored by the American Cancer Society, Camden County Health Department, Coastal Health District and Camden County Children’s Alliance and Resource.

Chatham County
The Chatham County Teen Peer Counselors are sponsoring a "Pack for a Pack" campaign. Drop off your tobacco related products in exchange for packs of snacks and other goodies. The teens will be stationed at the following locations:

The Oglethorpe Mall - 3-6 p.m.
7804 Abercorn Extension, Savannah

Live Oak Public Libraries - Bull Street Branch - 3-6 p.m.
2002 Bull Street, Savannah

Live Oak Public Libraries - Oglethorpe Mall Branch - 3-6 p.m.
7 Mall Annex, Savannah

Chatham County Health Department - Midtown Clinic - 3-5 p.m.
1602 Drayton Street, Savannah

Glynn County
Drop off tobacco related products from 10:00am –3:00 pm at one of the following locations:

Coastal Georgia Community College
3700 Altama Ave., Brunswick

Glynn County Health Department
2747 Fourth Street, Brunswick

YWCA of Brunswick
144 Scranton Connector, Brunswick

Register to win a care package featuring a 41/2 hour of hypnosis for tobacco cessation sponsored by Coastal Medical Hypnosis and 1months personal training at the YWCA. Smokeout is sponsored by American Cancer Society, Coastal Health Distirct, Glynn County Health Department, HealthyGlynn.com and UGA Cooperative Extension.

Liberty County
The Young Adult Liberty Leaders (YALL) are sponsoring a "Pack for a Pack" campaign. Drop off your tobacco related products in exchange for packs of snacks and other goodies. The teens will be stationed at the YMCA at 201 Mary Lou Drive in HInesville from 3-8:30 p.m.


In addition to encouraging smokers to make a plan to quit, the Great American Smokeout is a day for Americans to join the American Cancer Society and its sister advocacy organization, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action NetworkSM (ACS CAN), in their efforts to advocate for smoke-free communities and workplaces. The combination of smoke-free communities and smoking cessation support is critical to helping smokers quit and stay tobacco-free.
“The lifesaving results of comprehensive tobacco control efforts in the United States are clear,” said Richard C. Wender, M.D., American Cancer Society president-elect. “By continuing efforts to reduce exposure to secondhand smoke, and helping more Americans quit smoking, we will continue to make progress against cancer.”

Approximately 22 percent of Georgians ages 18 and older smoke cigarettes. Approximately 10 percent of Georgia middle school students and 24 percent of high school students reported using some form of tobacco, according to DHR’s 2005 Student Health Survey Report. Healthcare costs related to tobacco drain nearly $2 billion from Georgia’s economy every year.

The recent U.S. Surgeon General’s Report on Second-Hand Smoke also shows that almost 3 million children breathe toxic fumes from secondhand smoke at least 4 days per week, mostly in homes and automobiles. Secondhand smoke is dangerous for children and can cause asthma attacks, bronchitis, pneumonia, and ear infections. Babies under one year of age are particularly vulnerable to secondhand smoke, and are at increased risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Research shows that smokers are most successful in kicking the habit when they have some means of support, such as nicotine replacement products, counseling, prescription medicine to lessen cravings, guide books, and the encouragement of friends and family members. Despite that, only about 1 in 7 current smokers reports having tried any of the recommended therapies during his or her last quit attempt.

For more help in quitting smoking or more information on smoke free communities, visit the American Cancer Society’s website at www.cancer.org or call the Georgia Tobacco Quit Line at
1-877-270-STOP.

or visit http://www.smokefreeyou.org/
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