WEST VIRGINA – The WV African American Tobacco Prevention Network would like to encourage all West Virginians to celebrate the Great American Smoke Out on Thursday, November 18th, 2021.

The Great American Smoke Out is an opportunity for people who smoke to commit to health, smoke-free lives – not just for a day, but year-round. The Great American Smoke Out provides an opportunity for individuals, community groups, businesses, health care providers, and others to encourage people to use the date to make a plan to quit or plan in advance and initiate a smoking cessation plan on the day of the event.

“The event challenges people to stop smoking and helps people learn about the many tools they can use to help quit and stay quit,” said Rhonda Robinson, MSW, WVAATPN Coordinator. “We educate African Americans on how tobacco use in the leading preventable cause of death and how smokers die about 10 years earlier than those who have never smoked.”

Studies have also proven that smoking is a significant cause of heart disease, cancer and stroke, which are the three leading causes of death for African Americans. Approximately 45,000 individuals have died from a smoking-related disease.

“If current smoking rates persist, an estimated 1.6 million black Americans alive today under the age of 18 will become regular smokers, and 500,000 will die prematurely from a tobacco-related disease,” said Robinson. “We challenge all tobacco users to call the WV Tobacco Quitline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW. Remember that “Knowledge is Power.”

For more information, please visit https://wvtobaccoquitline.com.