News and Events

The Tobacco Free Partnership and Cleveland Clinic Celebrate the "Great American Smokeout"
November 19, 2021

On November 19, 2021, the Tobacco Free Partnership of Indian River County celebrated the Great American Smoke Out with Cleveland Clinic Scully-Welsh Cancer Center at Gifford Youth Achievement Center. The Partnership utilized this observance to encourage people to plan to quit smoking using the free tools and services, such as the Scully-Welsh Lung Screen Services and Quit Your Way program. Participants who completed a free lung screen, received a quit cold turkey sandwich and information regarding cessation and the Tobacco Free Partnership.

Tracing its history back more than 40 years, the American Cancer Society's Great American Smokeout marks a date when smokers are encouraged to use the date to either make a plan or to begin their quit journey (1). Quitting smoking can add up to 10 years to life expectancy (2). The health benefits of quitting smoking include reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke, improving lung function, and lowering the chances of getting an array of different cancers(3,4).

The Tobacco Free Partnership of Indian River County continues to provide access to information regarding free cessation resources. If you or your organization are interested in supporting your employees/clients quit attempts, contact Kyleigh Savoie at (772)-577-3701 or ksavoie@quitdoc.com

If you are interested in learning more about the Tobacco Free Partnership or how to be involved, please contact Kyleigh Savoie at (772)-577-3701 or ksavoie@quitdoc.com.

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References:

  1. "History of the Great American Smokeout." American Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org/healthy/stay-away-from-tobacco/great-american-smokeout/history-of-the-great-american-smokeout.html. [accessed 10 August 2020.]
  2. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Health Consequences of Smoking—50 Years of Progress: A Report of the Surgeon General. Atlanta: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health, 2014. [accessed 10 August 2020.]
  3. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS). (2014). Let's Make the Next Generation Tobacco-Free: Your Guide to the 50th Anniversary Surgeon General's Report on Smoking and Health (Consumer Booklet). Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health. [accessed 10 August 2020.]
  4. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. A Report of the Surgeon General. How Tobacco Smoke Causes Disease: What It Means to You. Atlanta: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health, 2010 [accessed 2020 August 10].