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Tobacco Control Program Newsletter
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In 1970, Arthur Mullaney, a guidance counselor from Randolph, MA asked residents from Randolph, MA to quit smoking for a day and donate money saved on cigarettes to a high school scholarship fund. Mullaney’s action sparked stop smoking days in Minnesota and California and led to the birth of the American Cancer Society’s national Great American Smokeout (GASO). For 47 years the GASO event has been a beacon of light to smokers, inviting them to quit for a day and take time to develop a quit plan.
The GASO has played a critical role in increasing public awareness about the dangers of smoking and the benefits of quitting at any age. A recent long-longitudinal study of 1.48 million adults 20 to 79 years of age concluded that smokers who quit smoking for 3 years had 5 years of extended life and smokers who quit for 10 years extend their lifespan by 10 years.
Since the first GASO event in 1977, the tobacco landscape has dramatically changed. While consumers can choose from a variety of nicotine delivery devices, tobacco users have more pathways to quit than ever before. Quit medications, quitlines, group cessation classes and text and web-based cessation programs can be part of a quit plan that increase a person’s odds of becoming tobacco free for good.
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Meet Our TCP Partner: Neely Dahl
🎉 This Great American Smokeout (GASO) marks 9 years Neely Dahl has been quit for good after starting at the age of 16. She has over 20 years of public health experience including being a trained Tobacco Treatment Specialist. She was part of the TCP as the Northwest Regional Coordinator. She served as the Co-Chair and then Chair of the Tobacco Free Alliance of Virginia. Neely currently works with the University of Virginia’s Comprehensive Clinical Cancer Center’s Tobacco Treatment Program where she’s able to connect with patients to help them quit tobacco use.
Neely has a passion to help people live tobacco free which is clear when she facilitates all the GASO Tobacco Free Tuesday webinars. Many of the panel participants are people who she’s been able to support on their quit journey. She always tells her patients that although life can be hard, be kind to yourself and open to new opportunities and strategies. Join us on the 19th to see Neely's enthusiasm live!
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Data Highlight
It’s widely known that tobacco use greatly increases an individual’s risk for developing cancer, but did you know that cigarette smoking is responsible for nearly 90% of all lung cancer cases (American Lung Association, 2024)? Carcinogens in cigarette smoke can damage the cells lining the lungs, leading to abnormal cell growth and tumor formation over time. The risk of lung cancer increases with both the duration and intensity of smoking, underscoring the importance of prevention and cessation efforts. A recent article published in JAMA Oncology found that initiating tobacco cessation treatment within 6 months of a cancer diagnosis resulted in the largest survival benefits, potentially adding years to a person’s life.
There are many health benefits to quitting, including reducing the risk of cancer. Circulation and lung function can improve just two weeks after quitting! The Great American Smokeout campaign through the American Cancer Society provides a great opportunity to let people know it’s never too late to quit smoking. Check out the other benefits quitting can have on your health here. As always, Quit Now Virginia is available at no cost to begin your journey to living tobacco-free.
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Tobacco Control in the News
Norfolk Casino will allow Smoking; Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects (CEASE) and public health advocates held a press conference at the groundbreaking ceremony for Boyd Gaming and the Pamunkey Indian Tribe’s new Norfolk, VA, casino, calling on the casino operators to implement a comprehensive smokefree policy to protect casino employees and patrons from the dangers of secondhand smoke.
The Virginia High Education Tobacco Policy Dashboard gains traction in the Hampton Roads area. Read the reaction from an ODU student and health educator.
New! CDC Foundation Monitoring Tobacco Product Use Website - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Office on Smoking and Health, in partnership with the CDC Foundation, has launched a new website featuring interactive charts and visualization tools with up-to-date figures on U.S. e-cigarette sales and tobacco trends.
Nearly 90% of Instagram posts by tobacco companies violate either federal regulations or guidance on youth marketing - Learn more from Truth Initiative.
Won't You Be My Tobacco-free Neighbor? The National Behavioral Health Network just released this new guide that supports organizations and their neighbors in collaborating on tobacco-free initiatives by providing meaningful engagement strategies, effective messaging, and solutions for addressing common barriers.
FDA is issuing guidance to industry that describes FDA’s enforcement policy for the “Tobacco Products; Required Warnings for Cigarette Packages and Advertisements” final rule, which established new required health warnings for cigarette packages and advertisements to promote greater public understanding of the negative health consequences of smoking.
October is Substance Use Prevention Month and SAMHSA has all the resources you need to join as a partner in prevention. You will find ways to get involved, shareable toolkit resources, and more at their Substance Use Prevention Month page.
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Free help to quit tobacco.
Quit Coaches available for support.
- www.QuitNowVirginia.org
- 1-800-QUIT NOW (1-800-784-8669) or text READY to 34191
- A free 24/7 service for all Virginians, 13 and older for all types of tobacco/nicotine
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Free Vaping Resources for Teens, Youth Adults, & their Support Circles.
- VapeFreeVA.org
- Find vaping prevention and cessation facts & tips
- Support Circle tips are for any adult concerned about vaping -- parents, guardians, educators, physicians, etc.
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- Becoming a Tobacco Free Worksite,
- Referring your patients and clients proactively to Quit Now Virginia,
- Finding your local tobacco and nicotine coalition, or
- Scheduling a tobacco and nicotine related training for your staff or community.
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