We don't often hear encouragement to quit something. Tobacco use is one of those behaviors where quitting actually is better for everyone. The U.S. Surgeon General reports that cigarette smoking is a contributor to the death of 480,000 Americans each year. While lung cancer, heart disease, stroke and asthma have long been known to be linked to smoking, new diseases and conditions for which cigarettes are a causal factor include diabetes, arthritis, colorectal cancer and erectile dysfunction.

How does this apply to us, when most of us don’t use tobacco? Nationally, about 14% of college students have smoked cigarettes in the last month, and 1 in 40 smoke one-half pack of cigarettes or more per day. Almost 23% of high school students have used tobacco in the last month; this includes cigarettes, cigars, hookahs or pipes. In fact, current estimates are that 90% of adult smokers actually started smoking before they were 18.

While the vast majority of us do not smoke or use tobacco, we know others who do use tobacco. We can help them quit. While tobacco is perhaps one of the hardest substances to quit using, a person will stop his/her use only when ready to do so. Again, we can help them quit. Some will benefit from tools or aids, but most important is the support and encouragement they get from friends, colleagues, family members, acquaintances, and even strangers.

We can help by pointing tobacco users to some of these resources. Mason is part of the Great American Smokeout, a national day that encourages quitting, and initiated by The American Cancer Society. This is for those who want to quit smoking, those who are still deciding, and non-smokers who want to be supportive. "Be A Quitter" takes place on Thursday, November 20 from 11 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., in Patriots Lounge in Student Union Building I. Available are quit kits, T-shirts, games and resources. Sponsored by WAVES, this is a great opportunity to quit smoking, or to help others in your life quit smoking. Plus, you'll see resources linked to the Stages of Change model!

You might also be interested in reading more about tobacco on the COMPASS website; under the "Self-Care" section, check out several articles about tobacco, as well as some quizzes, self-reflection opportunities and resources. With all of this attention and these resources, each of us has a range of tools helpful for our efforts to reduce or eliminate tobacco from our lives or the lives of those around us. Tobacco reduction is, indeed, part of the roadmap to healthier living.