For smokers who long to quit, today is the day to begin.
The American Cancer Society is holding the annual Great American Smokeout, a day designated to raise awareness about tobacco and to honor those who have died of a tobacco-related illness.
The University community will have a chance today, during a noon to 2 p.m. Smokeout event in the EMU, to commemorate those who died from such illnesses by posting pictures and personal stories on the Wall of Remembrance.
“My picture’s up there because my grandpa died of a tobacco-related disease,” said general science senior Katie Collins, a peer health educator. “He had three heart attacks and never gave up smoking, so he finally died of it.”
Smoking increases the risks of illnesses such as cancer, emphysema and other respiratory problems and heart disease, according to the American Cancer Society.
The Peer Health Educators program, the student group that organized the campus event, will be giving away hospital bracelets that can be inscribed with the names of students’ loved ones. A person dressed as a pack of cigarettes will be handing out literature.
The group will also be distributing Quit Kits, which contain items such as lollipops to stave smokers’ oral fixations, as well as suggestions on how to stop smoking.
“For those who smoke, (the event) encourages them to quit,” said Pat Cookson, American Cancer Society community cancer control manager. “People don’t usually quit on the first try. Unfortunately, it usually takes people many tries before they quit.”
She said the best way to quit is having a long-term plan and enlisting the help of a health care worker as well as friends and family.
There are several ways to stop smoking — some more successful than others.
Health educator Annie Dochnahl said the best way to quit is with a combination of products, such as the nicotine patch and Zyban.
The patch is usually worn on the arm and releases pure nicotine into the bloodstream, issuing lower levels of the drug after the wearer has grown accustomed to being a nonsmoker. Zyban is a prescription medicine that helps a person overcome the drug’s pull.
Some health officials say the nicotine craving hooks smokers, even those who originally planned to smoke for a short period of time.
“The tobacco industry is really taking advantage of the addiction,” Dochnahl said. “A lot of students will have their political ire raised when they think of the corporate suits getting rich off of their disease and addiction.”