Team Georgia Connection

American Cancer Society Marks Great American Smokeout by Urging States and Cities to Pass Smoke-Free Legislation

Smoke-Free Laws Protect Workers from Second-Hand Smoke. Help Smokers Quit.

The American Cancer Society is celebrating the 34^th Great American Smokeout this November 19 by calling on local lawmakers, city councils, mayors and other state and local officials to protect the health of workers and patrons with the passage of a comprehensive smoke-free law.   Comprehensive smoke-free policies not only protect workers and patrons from exposure to toxic secondhand smoke, but they also empower smokers to quit. 

The Great American Smokeout began more than three decades ago as a platform to encourage smokers to quit.  Since then, the platform has expanded to not only encourage smokers to make a plan to quit, but also to encourage all Americans to advocate for comprehensive smoke-free laws that help protect workers and patrons from exposure to secondhand smoke.

“With more than 3,000 municipalities, 31 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico now protected by strong smoke-free laws, more Americans are now able to dine out and make a living without sacrificing their health,” said Eric Bailey, grassroots manager for the American Cancer Society in Georgia. “Still, thousands of people in Georgia and across the country remain exposed to second-hand smoke each day. It’s time for state and local lawmakers to  take a stand for public health and pass a smoke-free law that will protect all workers from this deadly yet very preventable health hazard.”

The Society and its advocacy affiliate, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), are working with elected officials and health organizations statewide and across the nation to encourage passage of smoke-free laws.

Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death

Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, with 30 percent of all cancer deaths caused by tobacco use. Moreover, secondhand smoke is a major health hazard, proven to cause lung cancer, heart disease and emphysema. With 4,000 chemicals and more than 60 carcinogens, including arsenic and polonium, second-hand smoke is responsible for 3,000 lung cancer deaths annually and another 35,000 to 45,000 deaths from heart disease in otherwise healthy non-smokers.

Tobacco remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature deaths in the United States. Each year, smoking results in an estimated 443,000 premature deaths, of which about 49,400 are in nonsmokers as a result of exposure to second-hand smoke. Half of all Americans who continue to smoke will die from smoking-related diseases. Smoking accounts for $193 billion in health care expenditures and productivity losses annually in the nation. Tobacco use increases the risk of cancer of the lung, mouth, nasal cavities, larynx, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, kidney, bladder, uterine, cervix and myeloid leukemia.

Exposure to secondhand smoke increases the risk of lung cancer. Smoking accounts for at least 30 percent of all cancer deaths and 87 percent of lung cancer deaths.  The risk of developing lung cancer is about 23 times higher in male smokers and 13 times higher in female smokers compared to lifelong non-smokers.

Saving Lives

The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. We save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight. As the nation’s largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, contributing about $3.4 billion, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. As a result, about 11 million people in America who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more about us or to get help, call us any time, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.