LEWISTON — Thursday, Nov. 19, will mark the annual American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout. The Smokeout was started in 1976 to inspire and encourage smokers to quit for one day and is an opportunity for people to make a long-term plan to quit and to celebrate past successes, renewing the commitment to being tobacco-free.

Tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the United States. In Maine, seven people will die each day from a tobacco-related illness. In Androscoggin County, about 24.5 percent of adults are smokers, but it is never too late for these
smokers to quit.

All are welcome to join Healthy Androscoggin on the Great American Smokeout at their free Tobacco Support Group at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, in the Potvin Conference Room at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center.

The Great American Smokeout is also the registration kickoff for Healthy Androscoggin’s 11th annual Quit and Win Program. Those who sign up for Quit and Win between Nov. 19 and Jan. 11 and stay tobacco-free for the five-week program could win up to $500. Healthy Androscoggin will also send out quit tips and Tobacco Coordinator Sarah Mayberry can answer questions and suggest tools to help participants in successfully quitting.

For more information about the programs and to register, contact Healthy Androscoggin at 795-5990 or online at www.healthyandroscoggin.org.