Start with day one. That’s the call to action provided by the American Cancer Society leading up to this year’s Great American Smokeout on November 19, 2020. The event, which takes place on the third Thursday of November each year, provides a unified opportunity for all smokers to start their journey toward quitting smoking and leading a smoke-free life.

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention note that the percentage of smokers in the United States has declined from 20.9% in 2005 to 13.7% in 2018. While these numbers continue to decrease each year, the heightened stress and fear of uncertainty presented by the pandemic and other current events may lead more individuals to lean into smoking, or pick up smoking, rather than quit.

For current smokers interested in quitting, the University’s Comprehensive Medication Management program, available to all full- and part-time regular University faculty and staff with UPMC Health Plan coverage, provides smoking cessation guidance and resources at no-cost. The benefit provides the opportunity to meet with a pharmacist to receive counseling on smoking cessation and develop an action plan to help take better control of one’s health.

According to the American Cancer Society, “about 32.4 million American adults still smoke cigarettes, and smoking remains the single largest preventable cause of death and illness in the world.” Some of the most debilitating risks of smoking include cancer, decreased lung function, heart disease or attack, and death, amongst others.

While knowing the risks of smoking do not always deter a smoker, knowing the benefits of quitting may provide the much-needed encouragement one needs to kick the habit. The American Cancer Society notes that within 20 minutes of quitting, the heart rate and blood pressure of the smoker drop. After one year of quitting, coughing and shortness of breath decreases, and the risk of heart attack drops dramatically. And, after 10 years of quitting, the risk of certain cancers, including lung cancer, is dramatically decreased and the risk of coronary heart disease is equivalent to that of a non-smoker’s risk.

The decision to quit smoking is often difficult, but individuals do not have to take the journey alone. In addition to the Comprehensive Medication Management program at the University, the American Cancer Society also provides programs, resources, and support that can increase your chances of quitting smoking successfully.