Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.metro From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Smokeout a first step to quitting Date: Wed, 18 Nov 92 16:10:35 EST Message-ID: \SE B;METROPOLITAN;COMICS;DEAR ABBY \SS (WS) \HD Smokeout a first step to quitting \BY Abigail Van Buren \CR UNIVERSAL PRESS SYNDICATE DEAR ABBY: Last year, your column encouraging smokers to participate in the American Cancer Society's Great American Smokeout helped millions across the country make the decision to quit smoking - at least for the day. Would you please run that column again this year? It was a terrific morale booster for our 2.5 million American Cancer Society volunteers in the United States. Thank you very much for your help, Abby. Your support is very much appreciated, and we are grateful for all your good work in the fight against cancer. - STANLEY I. TANNENBAUM, CHAIRMAN, AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY, ILLINOIS DIVISION DEAR MR. TANNENBAUM: With pleasure! DEAR READERS: Tomorrow, Nov. 19, 1992, will mark the 16th annual Great American Smokeout, a one-day campaign to encourage smokers to quit smoking for 24 hours, just to prove they can do it. Last year, 18 million smokers tried to quit for the day. This represents 36 percent of the nation's 50 million smokers. Breast cancer used to be the biggest killer for women. But the No. 1 cause of cancer death among women and men today is lung cancer. Tobacco claims one life every 13 seconds. An estimated 146,000 will die of lung cancer in 1992. And now, a word about smoking-related diseases - emphysema, chronic bronchitis and heart disease: This year, an estimated 434,000 will die from one of these. This total exceeds the number of U.S. battle deaths in World War II; it's nine times as many people as die in automobile accidents every year. A congressional study has reported that health costs from the adverse effects of smoking have reached a new high of $100 billion a year in increased medical bills and lost productivity. The loss in death and disability cannot be measured. What about "secondhand" smoke? Is it damaging to nonsmokers to be in the presence of those of you who are smoking? Yes! One nonsmoker dies of secondhand smoke for every eight smokers. And studies reveal that the children of smokers are more prone to lung problems and allergies than are children of nonsmokers. For years I have begged my young readers, "If you smoke, quit now. If you don't smoke, don't start!" Yet an estimated 3,000 to 5,000 kids light up for the first time every day. Why? Peer pressure, no doubt. Cigarette companies sell $1 billion of cigarettes to children every year. Quitting "cold turkey" is the hardest way to quit, but my readers tell me it's the most effective and, in the long run, the easiest. To those who need help to break their habit: Call your local chapter of the American Cancer Society, or call 1-800-227-2345 for information. If you're hooked and have been telling yourself, "One of these days I'm going to quit," why not start tomorrow? It won't be easy, but it will be the best Thanksgiving present you can give yourself - and those who love you. Love, ABBY For Abby's favorite family recipes, send a business-sized, self-addressed envelope, plus check or money order for $3.95 ($4.50 in Canada) to: Dear Abby, Cookbooklet No. 1, PO Box 447, Mount Morris, Ill. 61054. (Postage is included.) This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM