Still Smoking? Time to Join the Great American Smokeout

Get ready to kick the habit, find the support you need, and feel the immediate health benefits.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona is a tobacco-free organization and a proud supporter of the Great American Smokeout. Occurring annually on the third Thursday of November, the Great American Smokeout, was founded by the American Cancer Society (ACS) in 1977 to encourage tobacco users across the nation to change their lives for the better.

According to the ACS, roughly 42 million Americans smoke, and even more use smokeless tobacco and e-cigarettes. Sadly, the use of tobacco is the largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the U.S.

Why Quit?

The health benefits begin the moment you stop smoking! Regardless of your age, when you choose to stop smoking you start to get back years of your life that could be lost by using tobacco. Check out the chart below to learn how your body almost immediately starts to recover when you quit smoking.

Source: Quit Like a Champion, Great American Smokeout, (PDF, 1MB)

Want to quit tobacco? Contact a quit coach today.

Most people try to quit tobacco on their own, but many are unsuccessful. As an Arizonan, you may increase your chances of success by working with a quit coach, like those at the Arizona Smokers’ Helpline (ASHLine). Many of the quit coaches at the ASHLine are former tobacco users themselves, so they’ve walked in your shoes. They are trained professionals who can help you create and stick to a quit plan.

They’re kind of like a personal trainer -- they help you set goals and provide support along the way as you work towards your goal. The coach can also help you make adjustments to the plan too, if necessary.

To get connected to a quit coach today, call the Arizona Smokers’ Helpline (ASHLine) at 1 (800) 556-6222, or visit ASHLine.org.

Ultimately, only you can decide to quit smoking. Others may want you to quit, but the real commitment must come from you. The Great American Smokeout can give you the inspiration and information you need to make the decision to kick the habit. Good luck! Your friends at BCBSAZ are rooting for you.

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1. Quit Like a Champion, Great American Smokeout, (PDF, 1MB)

2. Arizona Smokers' Helpline