Great American Smokeout 2023-North Dakota Says ‘Nope’ to Smoke

You know, kicking the smoking habit isn't a walk in the park. But have you heard about the Great American Smokeout? It's a thing that happens every third Thursday in November where folks kick off their journey to a smoke-free life.

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And guess what? You're definitely not alone in this struggle. Nearly 70% of smokers want to say goodbye to those pesky cigarettes. Can you believe that addiction to nicotine often starts before someone even hits 18?

The stats are pretty eye-opening. About 34 million adults in the U.S. still puff away, making smoking the biggest preventable killer worldwide. Smoking snuffs out around 1 in every 5 lives, tallying up to about 480,000 deaths each year.

Here in North Dakota, there's a big push to get tobacco users on the path to a tobacco-free life.

But here's the good news: getting help seriously boosts your chances of quitting. Services like NDQuits are all about crafting personalized plans and dishing out killer tools to beat those cravings, change habits, and dodge triggers, so you can finally say 'see ya' to tobacco.

NDQuits is pretty awesome, helping over 3,000 locals every year. And get this: more than a third of those who finish their program are still smoke-free even seven months later.

The big goal? It's all about cutting down diseases, disabilities, and deaths tied to smoking. How? By stopping young folks from getting into smoking, helping both kids and adults quit, and making sure no one has to deal with secondhand smoke.

Let's be real, quitting isn't a snap decision; it's a journey. But starting with day one is a huge step towards a healthier life and lowering your cancer risk.

Living with someone who's quit smoking can be a challenge as you both adjust to new routines and sensitivities, but it's a journey worth taking together for a healthier and smoke-free environment.

Need a hand? Free resources are up for grabs. Give a shout at 1-800-QUIT-NOW or check out https://www.hhs.nd.gov/ndquits. They've got your back on this journey to a smoke-free life.