It’s "World No Tobacco Day"

Anyone who smokes, chews or otherwise consumes tobacco products is encouraged to give up the habit for the day. Not to be confused with the “Great American Smokeout,” today is “World No Tobacco Day.” Doctor John Lowe, in the University of Iowa’s College of Public Health, says the global effort was created in 1988 to draw attention to the harmful effects of tobacco use. The American Cancer Society and similiar groups in Australia, the U.K. and Europe set aside the day as part of an initiative to have smokers put down their cigarettes and give it a go. Lowe says the premise is — if you can quit for one day, you can quit for life. He says it’s not just smokers but anyone who uses tobacco in any form, especially those who “dip”. If someone just spent Memorial Day chewing tobacco, Lowe says today’s the day to show yourself you can quit, be tobacco-free and lead a happy life. He says the numbers of smokers are falling in Iowa and nationwide, but new smokers are still being lured in to take up the addictive, deadly habit. While the overall numbers are falling, he says the numbers are rising among young women and young men, groups that haven’t been smoking before. He says the young smokers are, unfortunately, getting much younger. For folks who’d like more information on quitting, call Quit-line Iowa at 866-U-CAN-TRY.