SALEM, Oregon –– Cancer patients, survivors and advocates are marking the American Cancer Society's 49th annual Great American Smokeout on Thursday by calling on elected officials across the state to do more to reduce tobacco use. The Great American Smokeout is a day for people who smoke or use any form of tobacco, including e-cigarettes or nicotine pouches, to create a plan to quit.
In Oregon, tobacco use is still the leading preventable cause of disease and death, and smoking is linked to at least 12 types of cancers, including lung, liver and colorectal cancers. Each year, 5,500 die from a smoking-related disease in Oregon alone. Although these hazards are well established, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show 10.6% of adults in Oregon smoke. These products are highly addictive, and it can be difficult for people to quit using tobacco once they have started.
“The Great American Smokeout is not just an opportunity for people who use tobacco to set a plan to quit. It’s also a clear wake up call for lawmakers to say it’s time for Oregon to stand up to Big Tobacco,” said Jane Leo, Oregon government relations director for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN). “For too long, Oregon has allowed the tobacco industry to addict people to deadly, cancer-causing products. We need to give folks all the tools they need to stop and do all we can to keep a new generation from starting. It’s time to say, ‘enough is enough.’ Our residents deserve better.”
Research shows that strong tobacco control policies, like fully funded tobacco cessation programs and enforcement of the Oregon Indoor Clean Air Act are effective in helping people quit. Fewer people using tobacco products means less suffering and death from tobacco-related diseases like cancer.
“Nearly 70% of adults who smoke want to quit, but quitting is incredibly difficult. We know that a well-funded tobacco prevention and cessation program is so important to provide the support needed to help people quit, and to help prevent kids and young adults from starting to use tobacco.”
Tobacco use is one of the primary drivers of cancer-related health disparities. Tobacco companies have specifically targeted communities of color, people with limited incomes, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ people and youth, causing disproportionate tobacco use among these populations. In 2021, adults in rural areas used smokeless tobacco at two and a half times the rate of adults in urban areas (4.5% vs. 1.8%). Reducing the cancer burden for everyone relies heavily on eliminating tobacco use.
“On this Great American Smokeout, we urge Oregon lawmakers to support people who want to quit using tobacco by moving quickly to maintain funding for tobacco cessation programs and prohibit the sale of all flavored tobacco products. Passing these policies will help every resident of our state by reducing tobacco use and addiction, leading to fewer deaths and suffering from tobacco-related diseases like cancer.”
Free resources on quitting tobacco can be found through the American Cancer Society’s cessation program, Empowered to Quit or at Smokefree Oregon.