ccnm-newsCHICAGO – November 11, 2016 – Tobacco remains the single most preventable cause of disease and death throughout the Chicagoland region and across the country. According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, cigarette smoking is responsible for more than 480,000 deaths per year in the U.S., which equates to about 1,300 deaths each day.

 

The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) and nearly 30 advocacy organizations across the city and suburbs today announced the third annual ‘Nobody Quits Like Chicagoland’ Smoking Cessation Awareness Week. Events and initiatives throughout the week will aim to drive public awareness of the importance of smoking cessation (or quitting).

 

To support this week’s efforts, Mayor Rahm Emanuel has issued an official proclamation commemorating Sunday, November 13 – Friday, November 18 as Smoking Cessation Awareness Week in Chicago.

 

“I commend the efforts of the Chicagoland region for continuing to lead the nation in taking major steps to reduce tobacco use and raise awareness of the importance to quit smoking,” said Mayor Emanuel. “While we’ve made a number of strides – including our move to change the legal age to purchase tobacco products – more can be done to help people quit smoking and educate others as to why they should never start.”

 

On July 1, 2016, the minimum age to purchase tobacco products in Chicago increased from 18 to 21. This law protects young people who are more vulnerable to nicotine addiction, and are also targeted by the tobacco industry with marketing and products designed to lure youth. Senate Bill 3011, currently in the Illinois legislature, proposes to extend that law to the rest of the state.

 

Throughout the week, partners in this effort will host a variety of programs across the city and suburbs to raise awareness of the dangers of tobacco products and provide resources and support to those who want to quit.

 

Messages will be shared across Chicago using the City’s digital billboard network, in addition to commitments from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois headquarters and the Crain Communications building downtown to display campaign messaging with their building lights.

 

See below for an outline of each day’s focus and major highlights throughout the week. A full schedule of events associated with each of these days is available at https://nqlc.wordpress.com. Also check for daily updates and announcements using hashtag #ChiQuits on social media.

 

  • Sunday, November 13 | Smoke-Free Faith, engaging various faith communities across Chicago in this campaign

 

  • Monday, November 14 | Kick Butts Out of the Home, raising awareness of smoke-free housing, and encouraging loved ones in your home to quit

 

  • Tuesday, November 15 | Kick Butts at Work, elevating employee groups and supports that encourage employees to stop smoking

 

  • Wednesday, November 16 | Mental Health, bringing to light the needs of the mental health community and other hard-to-reach populations when it comes to smoking cessation

 

  • Thursday, November 17 | Youth & the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smoke Out, raising awareness of the dangers of tobacco use in all its forms to young people across the region

 

  • Friday, November 18 | TGIF & LGBTQ, remembering that social smoking is still smoking, and hosting events for the LGBTQ Community

 

Partners in this effort include:

Advocate Health Care

Aetna

American Cancer Society

American Heart Association

American Lung Association

Asian Health Coalition

Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids

Chicago Hispanic Health Coalition

Chicago Housing Authority

Cook County Department of Public Health

DePaul University

Edward-Elmhurst Health

Illinois Academy of Family Physicians

Illinois Department of Public Health

Illinois Public Health Institute

Kane County Health Department

Lake County Health Department & Community Health Center

Loretto Hospital

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago

Midwest Business Group on Health

National Kidney Foundation of Illinois

Northern Illinois Public Health Consortium

Northwestern Medicine

Oak Street Health

Orthodox Christian Coalition for Healthy Youth

Premier Pain and Spine

Presence Health

Respiratory Health Association

Rush University Cancer Center

 

To learn more, and get more information on how to quit, visit at (866) QUIT-YES or visit www.QuitYes.org.

 

By CCNM

I have functioned as a Business and Media Consultant over the past sixteen years and spent many years developing my capacity to function in our ever evolving use of technology, communication, education and training.