JACKSON, Miss. – Cancer patients, survivors and advocates are marking the American Cancer Society's 49th annual Great American Smokeout 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 Mississippi, tobacco use is still the leading preventable cause of disease and death. In addition, smoking is linked to at least 12 types of cancers, including lung, liver and colorectal cancers. Each year, more than 1,600 die from a smoking-related disease in Mississippi alone. Although these hazards are well established, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show a staggering 15% of adults in Mississippi 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 Mississippi to stand up to Big Tobacco,” said Kimberly Hughes, Mississippi government relations director for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN). “Nearly 200 cities and towns in Mississippi have passed comprehensive smoke-free workplace ordinances. However, that still leaves more than 50% of the Mississippi population not protected from secondhand smoke. We call on officials in our towns and cities to seize this opportunity.”
ACS CAN is also marking the day by unveiling the brand new Smoke Free Mississippi website. Visitors can use the resource to track the progress in their own city or town and to see stories from real Mississippians about why smoke-free ordinances are important.
Free resources on quitting tobacco can be found through the American Cancer Society’s cessation program, Empowered to Quit, or the Mississippi Tobacco Quitline.