Public health advocates gathering at City Hall for Great American Smokeout

WHAT:                    Great American Smoke-Out commemoration

WHO:                       Representatives from the Coalition for a Tobacco Free Arkansas, Little Rock Community Programs, Arkansas Interfaith Alliance, Arkansas Youth Leadership Initiative

WHERE:                  Little Rock City Hall Rotunda

                                    500 West Markham

                                    Little Rock, AR 72201

WHEN:                    10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 17

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Nov. 17, 2016) – With a timely message about going cold turkey to encourage smokers to quit, public health advocates will commemorate the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout at Little Rock City Hall at 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 17.

The City of Little Rock’s Department of Community Programs, the Coalition for a Tobacco Free Arkansas, and other public health partners will talk about the leading cause of preventable death in the United States and to announce an initiative to motivate smokers to quit for a 24-hour period in the hopes that they give up tobacco for good. After the ceremony, up to 50 smoked turkey sandwiches will be given out to smokers who give up a pack of cigarettes.

Approximately 40 million Americans smoke cigarettes. While cigarette smoking rates have dropped (from 42% in 1965 to 17% in 2014), cigar, pipe, and hookah – other dangerous and addictive ways to smoke tobacco – are on the rise, according to the American Cancer Society.

“The national Great American Smokeout more than just raising awareness,” said Katherine Donald, executive director of the Coalition for a Tobacco Free Arkansas. “Our hope is that smokers all over Arkansas will join with millions of other smokers across the country to make a pledge to quit and start the journey toward a tobacco-free life.”

The public is invited to attend the Nov. 17 event and participate in the Great American Smokeout. Each attending nonsmoker is asked to invite one tobacco user to attend with them. Those who would like to make a pledge to quit smoking – even just for the day – can make that commitment official by trading in a pack of cigarettes for a smoked turkey sandwich.

About the Coalition for a Tobacco Free Arkansas

The Coalition for a Tobacco Free Arkansas is a network of statewide organizations with a shared mission to prevent the use of tobacco in Arkansas. It has worked since its inception in January 1992 to improve the health of Arkansans by waging a grassroots campaign to increase public awareness of the negative effects of tobacco use. For more information about the Coalition for a Tobacco free Arkansas, visit arfreshair.com. For help to quit tobacco, call the Arkansas Tobacco Quit-line at 1-800-QUIT-NOW.

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