Great American Smokeout 2021

For more than 40 years, the American Cancer Society has hosted the Great American Smokeout on the third Thursday of November.  Great American Smokeout activities provide an opportunity for individuals, college campuses, community groups, businesses, health care providers, and others to encourage people who use tobacco to use the date to make a plan to quit, or plan in advance and initiate a tobacco quit plan on the day of the event .

The Great American Smokeout is traditionally held on the third Thursday of November; however, your campus might choose to plan the event on a different day to accommodate your campus calendar. Great American Smokeout is on November 18, 2021.

GREAT AMERICAN SMOKEOUT EVENTS ON CAMPUS

CYAN provides free resources to California colleges and universities interested in hosting campus events to motivate and support students and campus community members in quitting tobacco. Resources include quit kits, print educational and cesation materials, and tools to generate ideas for on-campus events and activities.

Quit Kits

Quit kits are designed to support individuals who use tobacco in quitting by providing an assortment of quit tools and resources. This year’s quit kits include items such as honey sticks, gum, hard candy, quit brochure, a pen, and a note pad for individuals to document cravings and triggers. CYAN sends campuses all supplies and campus partners can build the quit kits and add additional resources or materials, if interested.

Customizable quit kit materials are available in English, Spanish, and for Student Veterans. When registering, individuals can select which quit kits they are interested in receiving.

Educational Materials

Posters, flyers, fact cards, and other educational materials are available free of charge to help promote tobacco cessation on your campus. If you would like these additional materials for your Great American Smokeout and other events on campus, please click here. Note: You will be redirected to the cyanonline.org website for ordering.

REGISTRATION

Registration for the 2021 event is currently open. Individuals from California colleges, universities, and vocational schools may register for free resources. Additionally, CYAN can provide materials to community based organizations working with a California college/university on smoke/tobacco-free initiatives. Registration for this event closes on Monday, November 1st. Materials will be mailed the first week of November.

GREAT AMERICAN SMOKEOUT VIRTUAL EVENT TOOLKIT

CYAN provides an Event Toolkit which offers event ideas, social media messaging, and resources for education, advocacy, and tobacco treatment . Please check back for the 2021 Toolkit. Access the 2020 Great American Smokeout Virtual Toolkit here.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

If you would like to request educational materials to from Kick It California, formerly the California Smokers’ Helpline, visit here. Kick It California provides free support for individuals in California to quit tobacco. For more information about the helpline, please visit kickitca.org.

For more information about this event, please contact Krandalyn Goodman at Krandalyn[at]cyanonline.org.