November 21, 2013: Great American Smoke Out Day

Photo Credit: chicagohealthonline.com

 

The American Cancer Society marks the Great American Smokeout on the third Thursday of November each year by encouraging smokers to use the date to make a plan to quit, or to plan in advance and quit smoking that day. By quitting — even for one day — smokers will be taking an important step towards a healthier life – one that can lead to reducing cancer risk.
 

This year, we’re celebrating quitters and their supporters with a series of fun characters designed for social sharing on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. We’ve also got lots of other resources and information to help you quit for good.

 

Read more on American Cancer Society

Graphic Anti-Smoking Warnings Change Cigarette Taste

Photo Credit: David Dairey

In the months since graphic anti-smoking warnings have appeared on Australian cigarette and other places abroad, packaging in smokers have complained that the cigarettes don’t taste as good as they did before the health warnings.

 

According to The New York Times, “More than seven months have passed since Australia imposed one of the world’s toughest laws for tobacco warning labels, swapping iconic packaging for graphic images of mouth ulcers, cancerous lungs and gangrenous limbs. And though experts say it is too soon to know what impact the law has had on tobacco use, one thing is certain: Smokers think the cigarettes taste off. Complaints started to roll in about the flavor of cigarettes almost immediately after the law went into effect on December 1.”

 

Smoking Prevention in Schools Found to Be Effective Strategy

Photo Credit: blog.childtrends.org

Certain school-based programs that aim to keep kids from smoking cigarettes seem to work, according to a fresh look at some past research.

After examining over a hundred "gold standard" studies, researchers found that school-based programs that teach children life skills and self-esteem were linked to a significant reduction in the number who started using tobacco down the road.

 

READ FULL FEATURE: Science Daily
Research conducted by The Cochrane Library