JEFFERSON PARISH, LA– November 16, 2023 – Elected officials across the state must do more to support residents of Louisiana who want to quit using tobacco products, say, cancer patients, survivors, and advocates who are marking the American Cancer Society’s 48th annual Great American Smokeout®. The Great American Smokeout is a day for people who use tobacco to create a plan to quit.
In Louisiana, tobacco use is still the leading preventable cause of disease and death, and smoking is linked to at least 12 types of cancers, including lung, liver, and colorectal cancers. Each year, more than 7,200 people die from smoking-related diseases in Louisiana alone. Although these hazards are well established, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that 16.7% of adults in Louisiana smoke. These products are often highly addictive, and it can be difficult for people to quit using tobacco once they have started.
“The Great American Smokeout is not just an opportunity for people who use tobacco to set a plan to quit. It’s also a clear wake-up call for council members to say it’s time for Jefferson Parish to stand up to Big Tobacco,” said Alice Kline, the government relations director for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network of Louisiana. “The tobacco industry continues to addict people to their deadly, cancer-causing products that expose Jefferson Parish hospitality workers to secondhand smoke. It’s time to say, ‘Enough is enough.’ Our residents deserve better.”
Research shows that strong tobacco control policies like a smoke-free ordinance help people quit smoking and prevent kids from starting.
“Jefferson Parish council members can help support people who are trying to quit using tobacco by passing a comprehensive smoke-free law to keep all workplaces, including bars and casinos, smoke-free,” said Ronnie Dalleo, owner of Cleary Tavern and Sports Bar in Jefferson Parish. Studies have shown that smoke-free laws reduce smoking and allow businesses to become more prosperous with the absence of secondhand smoke.”
Free resources on quitting tobacco can be found at 1-800-QUIT-NOW or through the American Cancer Society’s cessation program, Empowered to Quit.
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About ACS CAN
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) makes cancer a top priority for policymakers at every level of government. ACS CAN empowers volunteers across the country to make their voices heard to influence evidence-based public policy change that improves the lives of people with cancer and their families. We believe everyone should have a fair and just opportunity to prevent, find, treat, and survive cancer. Since 2001, as the American Cancer Society’s nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate, ACS CAN has successfully advocated for billions of dollars in cancer research funding, expanded access to quality affordable health care, and advanced proven tobacco control measures. We’re more determined than ever to stand together with our volunteers to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. Join the fight by visiting www.fightcancer.org.