On behalf of Alaska Family Services’ Tobacco Prevention and Control Program and Breathe Free Mat-Su, I would like to thank the following businesses and organizations for their support in this year’s Great American Smokeout: Mat-Su College, Wake-Up Call Café, Campus Cache Book Store, Alaska Job Corps, Nugen’s Ranch and Body Renew in Wasilla.

Held each year on the third Thursday in November, The Great American Smokeout is designed to encourage smokers to quit smoking for a day in the hope that they may quit for good. The support of these businesses and organizations allowed us to distribute more than 30 quit kits to local smokers who committed to quit during this year’s Smokeout Nov. 20.

According to the American Cancer Society, tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the United States. Each year, an estimated 443,000 people die of smoking-related illnesses, including 38,000 deaths among nonsmokers as a result of secondhand smoke. By supporting events like the Great American Smokeout and offering support and encouragement to friends, family and co-workers as they struggle to quit, you can help both the smokers and nonsmokers in our community avoid becoming part of those statistics.

Becky Stoppa

Tobacco Prevention and Control Coordinator

Alaska Family Services