On Thursday, Nov. 21, staff from the Faculty Staff Assistance Program (FSAP) can be seen across Emory’s campus promoting the Great American Smokeout. The American Cancer Society started the national event to encourage tobacco cessation by establishing an official quit day.

For the past several years, FSAP’s wellness staff has been promoting the Great American Smokeout at Emory by encouraging employees to use the day to quit. This year, they will join together with wellness champions from individual schools and departments, to hand out candy flags made of Twizzlers, promote alternatives to smoking, and educate people about the cessation programs that are available at Emory.

"We want to get the word out that we are here to help people transition to a tobacco-free lifestyle," says Diane Weaver, FSAP wellness specialist. "Emory has a lot of free programs and resources that can help our employees quit smoking."

Take the online pledge

Weaver is asking current smokers to take an online pledge now to say that they will try quitting on the official quit day. "It only takes a minute to go online and take the pledge and, by doing so, you are more likely to follow through on quit day," she says.

Non-smokers can also take the pledge to give up one of their own unhealthy habits to show support for their friends and colleagues who are trying to quit tobacco.

Results and words of encouragement from the pledges will be posted on FSAP’s Twitter and Facebook page.  "Many people have already pledged to give up things like chocolate and caffeine for the day and the motivational messages are pouring in," says Weaver.

Anyone who takes the pledge by noon on Nov. 21, whether they are a smoker or non-smoker, will be entered into a drawing to win a pair of AMC movie tickets. To take the pledge, go to: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2013GASO.