Every year, on the third Thursday of November, smokers across the nation take part in the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout. They may use the date to make a plan to quit, or plan in advance and then quit smoking that day. The Great American Smokeout event challenges people to stop using tobacco and helps people know about the many tools they can use to help them quit and stay quit.

In many towns and communities, coalitions use this event to publicize the need to quit, and press for laws that control tobacco use and discourage teens from starting, and support people who want to quit.

While the number of adults in the United States that smoke cigarettes continues to decline, military service members are lagging behind with their cigarettes in hand. Twenty-five percent of service members smoke cigarettes, compared to 18 percent of the total U.S. adult population. In response to this, campaign organizers are making a special appeal to service members to quit smoking.

Coalitions on and off military bases can encourage, once again, their citizens to ditch the lighter and trash that pack of cigarettes on Thursday, Nov. 19, for the Great American Smokeout.

Download marketing materials to implement The Great American Smokeout in your community here.