HELENA, MONT. –– Cancer patients, survivors and advocates are marking the American Cancer Society's 48th annual Great American Smokeout® today by calling on elected officials across the state to do more to reduce tobacco use. The Great American Smokeout is a day for people who use tobacco to create a plan to quit.
In Montana, tobacco use is still the leading preventable cause of disease and death, and smoking is now linked to at least 12 types of cancers, including lung, liver and colorectal cancers. Each year, more than 1,600 die from a smoking-related disease in Montana alone and 28% of cancer deaths are linked to smoking. Although these hazards are well established, new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show 12.4% of adults in Montana smoke. Nearly 25% of state high school students use e-cigarettes, well above the national average, which is less than 8%. These products are highly addictive, and it can be difficult for people to quit using tobacco once they have started.
“The Great American Smokeout is not just an opportunity for people who use tobacco to set a plan to quit. It’s also a clear wake up call for lawmakers to say it’s time for Montana to stand up to Big Tobacco,” said Denver Henderson, Montana Government Relations Director for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN). “For too long, Montana has allowed the tobacco industry to addict people to deadly, cancer-causing products. It’s time to say, ‘enough is enough.’ Our residents deserve better.”
Research shows that strong tobacco control policies, like aggressive taxation can help people quit smoking and keep kids from exposure and addiction to these deadly products.
“Nearly 70% of adults who smoke want to quit, but quitting is incredibly difficult. We know that a well-funded tobacco prevention and cessation program is so important to provide the support needed to help people quit, and to help prevent kids and young adults from starting to use tobacco,” Henderson said.
Tobacco use is one of the primary drivers of cancer-related health disparities. Tobacco companies have specifically targeted communities of color, people with limited incomes, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ people and youth, causing disproportionate tobacco use among these populations. In 2021, the prevalence of any tobacco product use was higher among adults living in rural areas (26.2%) compared to adults living in urban areas (17.5%). Achieving health equity relies heavily on eliminating tobacco use.
“On this Great American Smokeout, we urge Montana lawmakers to support people who want to quit using tobacco by moving quickly to substantially increase funding for tobacco education and prevention programs in the next legislative session. This will help every resident of our state by reducing tobacco use and addiction, leading to fewer deaths and suffering from tobacco-related diseases like cancer,” Henderson said.
Free resources on quitting tobacco can be found at QuitnowMontana.com or through the American Cancer Society’s cessation program, Empowered to Quit.