The Great American Smokeout®

Quitting smoking isn’t easy. It takes time. And a plan. You don’t have to stop smoking in one day. Start with day one. Let the Great American Smokeout event on November 21 be your day to start your journey toward a smoke-free life. You’ll be joining thousands of people who smoke across the country in taking an important step toward a healthier life and reducing your cancer risk. Plus, the American Cancer Society can help you access the resources and support you need to quit.

Quitting starts here.

Start Day One

why is this event important?

More than 34 million Americans still smoke cigarettes, and smoking remains the single largest preventable cause of death and illness in the world. Smoking causes an estimated 480,000 deaths every year, or about 1 in 5 deaths. And more than 16 million Americans live with a smoking-related disease. While the cigarette smoking rate has dropped significantly, from 42% in 1965 to 14% in 2017, the gains have been inconsistent. Some groups of Americans suffer disproportionately from smoking-related cancer and other diseases, including those who have less education, who live below the poverty level, or who suffer from serious psychological distress, as well as certain racial and ethnic groups, and lesbians, gays and bisexuals.

Quitting smoking improves health immediately and over the long term – at any age. Stopping smoking is hard, but you can increase your chances of success with help. Getting help through counseling and medications doubles or even triples your chances of quitting successfully.

History of the Great American Smokeout

get help quitting smoking

Quitting smoking is not easy, but you can do it. To have the best chance of quitting and remaining smoke-free, you need to know what you’re up against, what your options are, and where to go for help.

Benefits of Quitting

The sooner you quit, the more you can reduce your chances of getting cancer and other diseases.

Helping a Person Who Smokes Quit

Do’s and Don'ts, general hints for friends and family.

How to Quit Smoking or Smokeless Tobacco

It’s hard to quit smoking, but you can do it.

Event Tools & Resources

Quitting is hard, but you can increase your chances of success with help. The American Cancer Society can tell you about the steps you can take to quit smoking and provide quit-smoking programs, resources, and support that can increase your chances of quitting successfully. To learn about the available tools, call us at 1-800-227-2345. You can also find free tips and tools below.

Great American Smokeout Tools

Latest News About Tobacco and Smoking

Quitting Smoking Starts With Day One

Some things are difficult to accomplish in one day. Becoming
a professional athlete…. Sculpting a chiseled physique… Joining a pro golf tour…
Even quitting smoking. It’s a process. It takes time. Check out our PSA videos
to see how every journey toward progress starts with day one.