Cessation

In Missouri, 45% of adults smokers report they have tried to quit smoking for one day or longer.

 The highest percentage of those quitting for one day or longer were among college (51.8%) and high school (49.2%) graduates.

Three out of five (60%) Missouri high school students who smoke reported trying to quit smoking.

 Most smokers want to quit smoking but find it very difficult, attempting an average of seven times before they are successful. Research shows that smokers who use nicotine replacement in conjunction with behavior modification have a greater chance of quitting.

Studies show that cessation among minority groups is more likely to succeed if culturally appropriate messages and materials are developed.

Smokers of all ages who quit smoking experience major and immediate health benefits. The excess risk of heart disease caused by smoking is reduced by half after one year off cigarettes.

In five to 15 years off cigarettes, the risk of stroke for former smokers returns to the levels of those who never smoked.

A seven-year program that reduced smoking prevalence by 1% per year would result in a total of 63,840 fewer hospitalizations for heart attacks and 34,261 for strokes, resulting in a total savings of more than $3 billion in costs, as well as preventing approximately 13,100 deaths.

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