The Great American Smokeout Day is Today

Originally posted on https://www.cancer.org

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.

Have a question about how to quit smoking? Want to know how lawmakers can help in the fight against tobacco use? Sharecare & the American Cancer Society team up to host a Great American Smokeout Twitter Chat. On Wednesday, Nov. 20 and Thurs. Nov 21, ask your question on Twitter and Facebook using the hashtag #quitforgood. Go online Thurs, Nov 21, 11 am to 4 pm EST to see the answers roll in from the American Cancer Society and other experts!

Get tips on how to kick your smoking habit during the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout on Thursday, Nov. 21st from 1-2pm ET during Everyday Health’s #HealthTalk: https://www.everydayhealth.com/healthtalk/great-american-smokeout.aspx

Tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the US, yet about 43.8 million Americans still smoke cigarettes — Nearly 1 in every 5 adults. As of 2010, there were also 13.2 million cigar smokers in the US, and 2.2 million who smoke tobacco in pipes — other dangerous and addictive forms of tobacco.

Why Quit?

The health benefits of quitting start immediately from the moment of smoking cessation. Quitting while you are younger will reduce your health risks more, but quitting at any age can give back years of life that would be lost by continuing to smoke. View sources.

More Information About Quitting

Quitting is hard, but you can increase your chances of success with help. The American Cancer Society can tell you about the steps you can take to quit smoking and provide quit-smoking programs, resources and support that can increase your chances of quitting successfully. To learn about the available tools, call us at 1-800-227-2345. You can also find free tips and tools below.

by 6d-destani

Companies Recommit to Smoking Cessation

While workers' waistlines remain a prime target in many employer-sponsored wellness initiatives, companies also are deploying aggressive anti-smoking programs in hopes of controlling health care costs, experts say.

Amy McAllister with Provant Heath Solutions noted in a recent Employee Benefit News report that her company has seen a strong uptick in the use of tobacco cessation initiatives.

McAllister said more employers are shifting their wellness programs to include a "total-body" approach, and that means tackling smoking among the workforce.

Provant's clients are using a mix of "carrot and stick" methods to encourage employees to participate, she said, including higher premiums for workers who refuse to quit.

Although the health benefits of kicking the habit are widely known, employers often overlook some of the legal snags that can occur with a smoking cessation program -- especially if it involves tests to make sure workers remain compliant.

"The issue of nicotine testing is complicated not only by the presence of smokers' rights laws and lifestyle statutes in certain states, which prohibit employer interference in off-duty conduct, but also by questions regarding disability and privacy," said Julie B. Ross of the law firm Lynn Ross Smith & Gannaway, according to Human Resource Executive Online.

Although no court has ruled that nicotine addiction is a disability, recent amendments of the American with Disabilities Act may make it easier for employees who are fired or penalized for failing a nicotine test to win legal battles with employers, Ross said.

Callan G. Carter, a partner at Fisher & Phillips LLP, noted that communication and test administration can further complicate programs that require testing. These challenges often convince employers to limit their scope of testing programs.

"I find that most employers allow employees to self-certify their tobacco use status and only test an employee for nicotine if the employer has a reason to believe the employee may be using tobacco after they have certified otherwise," Carter told HREO.

Still, the pressures of health care costs likely will continue to persuade employers to lean on anti-smoking programs and other initiatives that promise to drive down costs. A recent report by Adecco notes that 55 percent of executives rank health care costs as their No. 1 worry -- beating wages, taxes and talent retention.

That high concern about health care costs means companies should expect the trend of more smoking cessation programs and tobacco testing to continue, experts say.

by 6d-destani