Since the first edition of the “month without tobacco” operation in November 2016, more than a million French people have tried the experience and started smoking cessation on this occasion. A major public health operation that allows smokers every year to stop smoking temporarily… or permanently!
Tobacco, the leading preventable cause of death
In France, tobacco is still and always the first preventable cause of death, since tobacco is a risk factor for many chronic diseases, such as:
- Cancers, one in three cancers are linked to tobacco, and not just lung cancer ;
- Cardiovascular diseases and accidents;
- COPD ( Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), 80% of cases of which are directly related to smoking;
- The aggravation of many pathologies, such as diabetes, digestive diseases, ENT infections, or even eye problems (cataracts or AMD).
Smoking cessation or smoking cessation is therefore a major public health issue. The operation takes place every November and offers throughout the month to the general public to learn about tobacco and its dangers, but also and especially to smokers and smokers to quit smoking.
November is the “Month without tobacco”, a month to embark on smoking cessation
The objective of the operation is to convince the greatest number of smokers to stop smoking, at least during the month of the operation, or even definitively. In 2021, 110,000 French people had taken part in the operation. As of November 7, 2022, the score is largely exceeded, with already more than 150,000 registered. The interest is not to start alone, but to take advantage of a national collective momentum generated by the operation and the personalized support of toxicologists.
This support takes the form of the delivery of a complete smoking cessation aid kit, which the smoker can obtain free of charge from one of the many partner pharmacies in the territory. After an initial interview with a professional tobacco specialist, the smoker will find in the kit:
- The “40-day program” booklet, which offers advice and daily challenges to prepare for quitting for 10 days and maintaining quitting for 30 days;
- The “savings wheel” simulates the savings made when quitting smoking;
- A “Tools” leaflet that presents the Tobacco info service interface;
- The “Healthcare Professionals” leaflet, provides information on the possibilities of support by the various professionals.
Five times more likely to permanently quit smoking
At the same time, the smoker is invited to be accompanied during and after the month of the operation by a tobacco specialist. The Tabac-info-service website also has a questions/answers tab and an e-coaching application. Professionals are available on 39 89 for remote help and support. Support for smoking cessation is an additional chance to succeed in quitting smoking.
Nicotine substitutes are proposed according to the profile of the smoker and his habits. These substitutes can be prescribed by various health professionals (doctors, midwives, physiotherapists, nurses) and reimbursed by health insurance. Support and regular monitoring by a tobacco specialist also help manage behavioral and psychological dependence on tobacco, which is sometimes more difficult to manage than a physical dependence on nicotine. The operation proposes to quit smoking for 30 days, after which the withdrawal symptoms fade. And this duration of stoppage multiplies by five the chances of reaching a definitive stoppage. So all you have to do is register!