OUR VIEW: Make Smokeout last puff of cancer

There isn’t a man, woman or child in America who hasn’t been exposed to anti-smoking messages on TV, in school, in church or from family members. Yet 46.5 million Americans are addicted to tobacco. Fewer people are starting to smoke than ever before, but there are still many people who are already addicted and find quitting no easy task.

That’s what the Great American Smokeout in November is all about. Smokers are encouraged to go just one day without smoking, and consider quitting for good.

Tobacco addiction is both physical and psychological, and sometimes a desire to quit isn’t enough. It can take medical advice, medication and support from friends and family. Quitting is difficult, but it is well worth it, considering the health benefits. Lung cancer is the most preventable form of cancer, and yet it is also the leading cause of cancer death in the United States.

Smoking hurts others, too. Unborn children are harmed when their mothers smoke. Second-hand smoke has deleterious effects, especially on those with asthma or other respiratory problems. Many students at USU seem to be blissfully unaware of the law requiring smokers to stand 25 feet away from the entrance of buildings, thereby endangering the health of those who have chosen not to smoke.

The American Cancer Society offers support and information for smokers who want to quit during the Smokeout and every other day, 24 hours a day, by calling 1-800-ACS-2345 or logging on to www.cancer.org.