Great American Smokeout on Nov. 17 from American Cancer Society volunteer
Thursday, November 17 marks the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout – a day the Society started in California in 1976 to encourage smokers to quit, non-smokers not to start, and for Californians to get involved with initiatives that protect communities from Big Tobacco.
While tobacco use is the most preventable cause of cancer death in the U.S, it accounts for one out of every three cancer deaths in California and costs state tax payers more than $9 billion annually in health care costs due to smoking related illnesses.
These statistics can drastically change, and as the official sponsor of birthdays, the American Cancer Society encourages Californians to take an important step toward a healthier life – one that can lead to reducing cancer risk and creating more birthdays.
A historic opportunity is coming to our state in the form of the California Cancer Research Act (CCRA).
If approved by California voters on the June 5, 2012 ballot, the CCRA will increase tobacco taxes by $1 a pack and invest the revenues in cancer research, tobacco prevention and enforcement programs. Nearly $600 million will be generated every year for cancer research in California. This investment will make California one of the leading centers of cancer research in the world.
The Act will help protect our youth from Big Tobacco by keeping 200,000 kids from ever starting to smoke. Recent studies show that increasing tobacco taxes by $1 per pack is one of the most effective ways to reduce tobacco use, especially among youth. The increase will triple the state’s funding for smoking cessation and tobacco use prevention.. In fact, if we don’t increase funding for tobacco control in California, we can expect smoking rates to rise 9% by 2016.
The California Cancer Research Act is supported by the American Cancer Society; American Heart Association; American Lung Association; Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids; LiveStrong, The Lance Armstong Foundation and Stand Up To Cancer.
