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The third Thursday of November is observed in the majority of countries as No Smoking Day. It was introduced by the American Cancer Society in 1977.

Smoking harms nearly every organ of the body and dramatically reduces both quality of life and life expectancy. Smoking causes lung cancer, respiratory disease and heart disease as well as numerous cancers in other organs including lip, mouth, throat, bladder, kidney, stomach, liver and cervix.

The World Health Organization estimates that the global yearly death toll as a result of tobacco use is currently 6 million (including exposure to secondhand smoke). This is expected to rise to 7 million by 2020 and to more than 8 million a year by 2030. It is predicted that by the end of the 21st century, tobacco will have killed one billion people.

Quitting smoking is beneficial to health at any age and has immediate and long-term benefits. Cutting back rather than quitting completely does not produce significant health benefits. Getting proven, effective help through counseling and medications can increase the chances of quitting successfully two- to three-fold.