‘Great American Smoke Out’ held in Brainerd Sunday afternoon

BRAINERD, Tenn. (WDEF) — A Great American Smoke Out event was held in Brainerd Sunday afternoon to encourage the public to quit smoking.

This event was an opportunity for people who smoke to pledge to be smoke-free for 24 hours.

According to the CDC, over 11,000 adult Tennesseans die from smoking-related illnesses each year, and smoking is the leading cause of preventable diseases, disability, and death in the United States.

The Great American Smoke Out aims to help people commit to healthy, smoke-free lives… not just for one day but year-round.

“We wanted to bring it to the community where people are because it’s important. It’s a burden that affects our community. And we just want to be able to decrease that burden,” Jeanette Wyatt, Public Health Educator with the Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program said.

This program extends to people of all ages to stress the importance of living smoke-free.

“Especially not only in older Hamilton County residents, but also in the youth. The youth vaping epidemic has been around for a while. So, trying to encourage that quitting process through youth… and helping them understand how that kind of addiction cycle begins is really part of it as well,” Public Health Educator with the Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program, Jordan Armstrong said.

In the last decade, vapes and e-cigarettes have risen to popularity among younger generations.

This initiative aims to target addiction in youth as well as long-time smokers.

“It’s not only the people that smoke now. It’s the youth vaping. Because they don’t have to carry around a lighter or have an ashtray,” Armstrong added.

Many local organizations participated in this year’s G.A.S.O. on Sunday.

The Hamilton County Health Department and Chattanooga Parks and Outdoors hosted the event from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Chris L. Ramsey Sr. Recreation Center.

For more information and resources, visit the Hamilton County Health Department online.