Tobacco Awareness Observances
Through With Chew Week
February 19-25, 2012
Objective: Educate smokeless tobacco users and others about the dangers using smokeless tobacco.
Overview: Through with Chew was started in 1989 by the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation, Inc. The objective was to provide a public education campaign on spit tobacco, coordinated with dentists, healthcare providers, sports coaches and teachers. In 1994, Oral Health America’s National Spit Tobacco Education Program (NSTEP) partnered with TWC in attempts to break the connection between baseball and smokeless tobacco. Through with Chew Week is observed during the third full week in February, with the Great American Spit Out taking place the Thursday of that week.
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Kick Butts Day
March 20, 2013
Objective: Encourage smokers and smokeless tobacco users to “kick” the habit of using tobacco in target communities statewide.
Overview: Kick Butts Day was started in September 1995 by the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids. It is a national day of activism that empowers youth to speak up and take action against tobacco use from coast to coast
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World No Tobacco Day (WNTD)
May 31
Objective: Inform the public on the dangers of using tobacco, the business practices of tobacco companies, what the World Health Organization is doing to fight the tobacco epidemic, and what people around the world can do to claim their right to health and healthy living and to protect future generations.
Overview: WNTD is observed around the world every year on May 31. The member states of the World Health Organization created WNTD in 1987. It draws global attention to the widespread prevalence of tobacco use and its negative health effects. The day aims to reduce the 5.4 million yearly deaths from tobacco-related health problems.
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Red Ribbon Week
October 23-31
Objective: Inform school-aged children of the addictive nature of tobacco and its use as a gateway drug, through activities, literature and an earned media campaign in target cities statewide.
Overview: The Red Ribbon Campaign was started when drug traffickers in Mexico City murdered DEA agent Kiki Camarena in 1985. Remembering/honoring this event started the continuing tradition of displaying Red Ribbons as a symbol of intolerance towards the use of drugs. The mission of the Red Ribbon Campaign is to present a unified and visible commitment towards the creation of a drug-free America. Red Ribbon week is celebrated on the third full week of October each year.
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Lung Cancer Awareness Month
November
Objective: Encourages all Americans to take time to learn about the deadliest of cancers and join in the fight for the cure.
Overview: The American Lung Association (ALA) has begun a nationwide lung cancer initiative to address the needs of patients and their families. ALA has found that one of their most important needs is comprehensive information and education about the disease, including treatment options. To close this gap, ALA is developing a robust set of information services for people at any stage of their disease.
Visit American Lung Association.
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Great American Smokeout (GASO)
November 17
Objective: Educate tobacco users and others about the dangers of smoking and encourage them to quit by promoting the health benefits of quitting in target communities statewide.
Overview: The idea for GASO stemmed from a 1971 request from Arthur P. Mullany, a Guidance Counselor from Randolph, Massachusetts, asking citizens to give up smoking for one day and donate the money they would have spent on cigarettes to a scholarship fund. Three years later in Minnesota, the editor on the Monticello Times, Lynn R. Smith organized “Don’t Smoke Day” also known as “D-Day.” The American Cancer Society successfully got one million smokers to quit for the day on November 18, 1976, which is recognized as the first Smokeout. The following year, in 1977, the event went nationwide, and is now recognized on the third Thursday in November each year.
Visit Great American Smokeout.
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