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University of Hawai'i |
(808) 956-8856 Telephone |
For Immediate Release: |
November 4, 1999 |
Contact: Kristen Scholly, Health Education Coordinator,University Health
Services Manoa, phone 956-3574; fax 956-3583
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| UHM Health Services sponsors "Great American Smokeout" |
The University of Hawai'i Health Education Center is hosting the American Cancer Society's "Great American Smokeout" this year. It will be held on Thursday, Nov. 18, 1999, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Campus Center Mall and Paradise Palms lanai.
Smoking is the most preventable cause of death in our society. Tobacco use is responsible for nearly one in five deaths in the United States. Based on data from the American Cancer Society's Cancer Prevention Study II, smoking accounts for at least 29 percent of all cancer deaths, and about half of all continuing smokers die prematurely from smoking. In addition to being responsible for 87 percent of lung cancers, smoking is also associated with cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, pancreas, cervix, kidney and bladder.
According to the American Cancer Society, many college-age students have smoked for years because they started as teens. The Centers for Disease Control reports that each day more than 6,000 people under 18 try their first cigarette, and that every day more than 3,000 people in this age group become daily smokers. In 1988, an estimated 700,000 people under the age of 18 became daily smokers. This figure has increased to an estimated 1.2 million people in 1996. In Hawaii 22 percent of sixth graders had tried smoking, according to the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division Hawai'i Students Survey in 1998. Out of these youngsters, 9 percent reported to have smoked within the past month of the survey.
Many smokers would like to quit, but creating and implementing a plan is extremely difficult. The purpose of the smokeout is to motivate smokers to quit for a day. One day without smoking may be the first step on a long journey toward being smoke-free for a lifetime.
UHM has historically taken a proactive stance in providing a healthy environment for students, faculty and staff. This year HMSA, American Cancer Society, the School of Dental Hygiene and Marriott are sponsoring this event. On Nov. 18 volunteers and staff from the UH Health Education Center will be distributing educational materials and publicizing this national campaign to move UHM toward becoming a tobacco-free campus.
