NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- The 37th Great American Smokeout is Thursday, Nov. 15. The annual event encourages smokers to use the date to make a plan to quit, or to plan in advance and quit smoking that day.

Smokers will be taking an important step towards a healthier life – one that can lead to reducing cancer risk.

The “Opportunities to Quit” sites will be hosted by respiratory therapists, public health students and Smoke-Free Knoxville Coalition volunteers, and will provide information and resources to encourage smokers to quit. “Opportunities” can be found at:

University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Pedestrian Walkway, 10 a.m.– 2 p.m.
University of Tennessee Medical Center, Main Lobby, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, Cafeteria, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Tennova Physicians Regional, Cafeteria, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Tennova North Knoxville (Powell), Cafeteria, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Tennova Turkey Creek (West), Cafeteria, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

The “Opportunities” tables will include print resources from the American Cancer Society and the Tennessee Tobacco Quit Line (1-800-QUIT-NOW), which provides free quit coaching, a free quit plan, and free educational materials. Referrals to local resources also will be provided.

According to a news release from the state Health Department, 23 percent of Tennesseans report smoking regularly or occasionally. Smoking is a significant public health issue, contributing to life-threatening problems including cancer and heart disease.

Health Commissioner John Dreyzehner says it is tough to break an addiction to tobacco, but studies show that those who get counseling have a better chance at success.