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1992.11.16 :  Great American Smokeout

Contact:  Robert Merritt  Dana Shelton (404) 488-5705
November 16, 1992

       HHS Secretary Louis W. Sullivan, M.D., today encouraged
smokers to participate in Thursday's Great American Smokeout.
       "Cigarette smoking is the biggest preventable cause of
death in our society, killing more than 434,000 Americans each
year," he said.  "I applaud the American Cancer Society for its
work each year in making the Smokeout a successful event."
       Last year, approximately 7.1 million smokers quit on the
day of the Smokeout, which translates to 18.4 million packs of
cigarettes not smoked and savings of at least $32 million.  Also,
at least five tons of tar were not consumed that may otherwise
have been.
       HHS Assistant Secretary for Health James Mason, M.D., head
of the U.S. Public Health Service, said, "Quitting is the most
life-enhancing action most smokers can take, because smoking-
related lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in men
and exceeds even breast cancer in deaths in women.  No wonder the
vast majority of U.S. smokers say they want to quit smoking, and
I encourage them to use the Smokeout as that important first step
to becoming a nonsmoker.  
       "If they quit before they are 50, they will cut in half
their risk of dying over the next 15 years.  Older smokers who
quit reduce their risks less dramatically - but the reduction is
still significant."
       Surgeon General Antonia C. Novello, M.D., said, "Smokers
risk not only an early death but years of confining disability
from obstructive lung diseases, such as emphysema.  It is never
too late to quit.  Quitting will slow and sometimes reverse some
of the decline in lung function and add years to your life."  
       This year's Great American Smokeout will be on Thursday, 
Nov. 19.  The goal of the Smokeout is to encourage a day's
cessation, and by doing so, to help smokers realize that if they
can quit for 24 hours, they can quit permanently.  Information is
available from local chapters of the American Cancer Society;
local chapter telephone numbers are available by telephoning 1-
800-227-2345.  The American Cancer Society has sponsored the
Smokeout since 1977.  

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