NOBODY QUITS LIKE CHICAGOLAND RETURNS NOVEMBER 13 through 18 TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE TO QUIT SMOKING

Tobacco remains the single most preventable cause of disease and death throughout the Chicagoland region and across the country. According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, cigarette smoking is responsible for more than 480,000 deaths per year in the U.S., which equates to about 1,300 deaths each day.

The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) and nearly 30 advocacy organizations across the city and suburbs today announced the third annual ‘Nobody Quits Like Chicagoland’ Smoking Cessation Awareness Week. Events and initiatives throughout the week will aim to drive public awareness of the importance of smoking cessation (or quitting).

Throughout the week, partners in this effort will host a variety of programs across the city and suburbs to raise awareness of the dangers of tobacco products and provide resources and support to those who want to quit.

Messages will be shared across Chicago using the City’s digital billboard network, in addition to commitments from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois headquarters and the Crain Communications building downtown to display campaign messaging with their building lights.

See below for an outline of each day’s focus and major highlights throughout the week. A full schedule of events associated with each of these days is available at https://nqlc.wordpress.com. Also check for daily updates and announcements using hashtag #ChiQuits on social media.

• Sunday, November 13 | Smoke-Free Faith, engaging various faith communities across Chicago in this campaign

• Monday, November 14 | Kick Butts Out of the Home, raising awareness of smoke-free housing, and encouraging loved ones in your home to quit

• Tuesday, November 15 | Kick Butts at Work, elevating employee groups and supports that encourage employees to stop smoking

• Wednesday, November 16 | Mental Health, bringing to light the needs of the mental health community and other hard-to-reach populations when it comes to smoking cessation
   
• Thursday, November 17 | Youth & the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smoke Out, raising awareness of the dangers of tobacco use in all its forms to young people across the region
   
• Friday, November 18 | TGIF & LGBTQ, remembering that social smoking is still smoking, and hosting events for the LGBTQ Community

To learn more, and get more information on how to quit, visit at (866) QUIT-YES or visit www.QuitYes.org.