CHEYENNE, Wyo. –- 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 Wyoming, tobacco use is still the leading preventable cause of disease and death, and smoking is linked to at least 12 types of cancer, including lung, liver and colorectal cancers. Each year, 800 die from a smoking-related disease in Wyoming alone. Although these hazards are well established, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show 14% of adults in Wyoming 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 Wyoming to stand up to Big Tobacco,” said Katharine Sutphen, Wyoming government relations director for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN). “For too long, Wyoming has allowed the tobacco industry to addict people to deadly, cancer-causing products. It’s time to say, enough is enough.’ Our residents deserve better.”
Research shows that strong tobacco control policies around cessation and prevention 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,” Sutphen said.
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, cigarette smoking was higher among adults living in rural areas in the US (18.0%) compared to adults living in urban areas (10.5%). Reducing the cancer burden for everyone relies heavily on eliminating tobacco use.
Free resources on quitting tobacco can be found through the American Cancer Society’s cessation program, Empowered to Quit or at Wyoming Quits.