The Great American Smokeout + Tools to Quit

What is the Great American Smokeout?
The Great American Smokeout (GASO) is a day every year sponsored by the American Cancer Society. GASO is one day when every American is called to quit smoking -- even if it is just for one day. GASO provides a day in which individuals, community groups, and health care providers urge people who smoke to develop a quit plan, commit to a day to quit smoking, and allows them to learn about tools that are readily available to them to aid in their quit journey. 

Why is GASO important?
Smoking is the single largest preventable cause of death and disease in the world -- 34 million Americans smoke cigarettes daily! No matter how long you’ve smoked, quitting improves your health immediately, and your chance of cancer instantly starts to decrease. Quitting can be extremely hard to do. The point of GASO is to make tools readily available to those who are thinking about quitting -- it is not to force you to quit cold turkey. We also don’t expect you to stop smoking completely after GASO -- you don’t have to quit in one day, just start with day one. 

What resources are available to me?
You can visit quitnowindiana.com or call 1-800-784-8669 (QUITNOW). This link and phone number will lead you to Indiana’s Tobacco Quitline, where you can speak to a live person for support, text with someone, or just get basic resources through the website. A person can set you up with cessation medication for free if you qualify, can send you daily encouragement texts, and can help you reach your tobacco-free goals. Quit plans are tailored to your specific needs, age, gender, and other factors. They are a great free resource for those who are trying to quit smoking cigarettes, vaping, or smokeless tobacco. You can sign up online or by calling the number listed above.

You can also seek judgement free services from your doctor or dentist. If they see fit, they can prescribe you cessation medication. Through Medicaid, these medications are often free to you. See your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider for more information. 

What are things that I can do to be successful at quitting?
We recommend that you visit quitnowindiana.com. They are extremely helpful and have an abundance of resources. 

We also recommend that you develop a Quit Plan. This means you: 

• Pick your day: Pick a day to quit smoking that means something to you. It may be beneficial to pick an anniversary, your birthday, or the Great American Smokeout!
• How you plan to quit: Decide whether or not you want to do over the counter nicotine replacement or you want to visit your health care provider to get prescribed medication. Both options are relatively successful in helping people quit. It has been proven that quitting cold-turkey may not be the best option, but if that is what you choose to do, do some research and prepare yourself! Know what triggers you may experience, and plan on how you choose to avoid them.
• Prepare for your quit day: To prepare for your quit day, tell your friends and family, talk to your doctor, throw away all ashtrays, cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, or vapes you may have in your home or car, ask your friends and family not to smoke around you, think about your “why” and remember what has and hasn’t worked for you in the past. 
• On your quit day: On your quit day, be strong and do not use tobacco, regardless of how much you want to. Stay busy by taking walks, exercising, or playing with your children. Change your routine, as sometimes keeping the same routine may be a trigger to smoke. Drink lots of water and juice, and avoid situations where you may want to use tobacco!

You don’t have to quit in one day. Just start with day one. You got this!