The Best Time to Quit Smoking is Now
The American Cancer Society continued its legacy of providing free resources to help smokers quit during the 33rd Great American Smokeout on Thursday, Nov. 20.
The Great American Smokeout was inaugurated in 1976 to inspire and encourage smokers to quit for one day. Now, 44.2 percent of the 45.3 million Americans who smoke have attempted to quit for at least one day in the past year, and the Great American Smokeout remains a great opportunity to encourage people to commit to making a long-term plan to quit for good.
There are numerous resources available to help smokers quit, and the American Cancer Society is here to help. By calling the American Cancer Society Quitline® at 1-800-227-2345, people who plan to quit will be able to speak with a trained counselor and receive free, confidential counseling.
Studies have found that Quitline can more than double a person’s chances of successfully quitting tobacco. Callers to Quitline can be connected with smoking cessation resources in their communities, social support groups, Internet resources, and medication assistance referrals. Since its inception in 2000, Quitline has provided counseling support to more than 380,000 smokers.
The American Cancer Society offers other free resources – through Quitline and at www.cancer.org/GreatAmericans – that can increase a smoker’s chances of quitting successfully, including tips and tools for friends, family, and coworkers of potential quitters to help them be aware and supportive of the struggle to quit smoking. Studies show the importance of social support in quitting smoking, as people are most likely to quit smoking when their friends, family, and coworkers decide to quit smoking. Popular online social networks such as Facebook and MySpace are also becoming support channels for people who want to quit, and American Cancer Society Smokeout-related downloadable desktop applications are available on these networks to help people quit or join the fight against tobacco.
Tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the United States. Each year, smoking accounts for an estimated 438,000 premature deaths, including 38,000 deaths among nonsmokers as a result of secondhand smoke. Half of all Americans who continue to smoke will die from smoking-related diseases.
Also imperative in this effort to encourage people to quit smoking are smoke-free laws and higher tobacco taxes which make it harder for people to smoke, and protect nonsmokers from tobacco smoke. The majority of U.S. communities are now covered by smoke-free laws, while 43 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico have raised tobacco taxes since 2000. Smokers nationwide now face an average cost of $4.32 for one pack of cigarettes, not including all taxes. The rising cost of living is also affecting smokers, as the cost of cigarettes presents an even greater burden. Smoke-free workplace laws and other tobacco control legislation, supported by the Society and its nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action NetworkSM (ACS CAN), help protect Americans from secondhand smoke and encourage smokers to quit.
SOCIAL SECURITY LOOKS TO THE FUTURE
By Vonda VanTil, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist
With the end of the year fast approaching, many people are already making plans for the new year – and beyond. As Americans look to the future, so too is Social Security. Recently, the agency released its new Strategic Plan with the motto, “Social Security Benefits America.”
This five-year plan identifies the challenges Social Security faces and the steps needed to meet those challenges head on. This plan charts the course that will enable us to effectively manage Social Security’s core workloads and work toward long-term enhancements of our service to the public.
There are challenges, such as the backlog of disability claims and the increasing population of retirees due to the aging baby boomer population. To address these and other challenges, the plan concentrates on four specific goals:
o Eliminate the hearings backlog and prevent its recurrence;
o Improve the speed and quality of the disability process;
o Improve retiree and other core services; and
o Preserve the public’s trust in Social Security’s programs.
The plan also notes the two keys to meeting our goals: Social Security’s dedicated employees and advances in information technology.
You can read the full text of Social Security’s Strategic Plan at www.socialsecurity.gov/strategicplan.html.
Vonda VanTil is the public affairs specialist for West Michigan. You can write her c/o Social Security Administration, 50 College SE, Grand Rapids MI 49503 or via email at vonda.vantil@ssa.gov.
Source: Press releases received at The New Citizens Press
