The Great American Smokeout

The 31st Great American Smokeout took place on Nov. 14,2007 in various locations in Arizona. The American Cancer Society uses this day to urge tobacco users to quit their drug for one day. They figure that the tobacco users can use this day to think and reflect upon what tobacco really does to them and why they should discontinue its use. In this day and age, millions of dollars are used in opposition of tobacco products and new drugs are created in order to halt the addictions of these users. At this smokeout, information and products are provided for tobacco users. If a user pledges to quit for at least a day, they will receive a gift certificate for a free sandwich.

One man said, "I quit five times before but it's hard. My brother smokes, everybody I know smokes so it's hard," as he dropped a new pack of cigarettes into a box and walked away with his sandwich. "If we get one person to quit today, I think our job was well done and our time well spent," says Marcy Flanagan from the cessation program at the Pima County Health Department. In 2004, over 45 million Americans smoked, as this number is about the same in the year 2007. With the new products today, it is much easier now to stop smoking, a complete turnaround from when the Great American Smokeout began, when it was one of the only options available. The smokeout is now on it's downfall because of all these other options.