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WHEREAS, the second full week of November is recognized as the third annual Smoking Cessation Awareness week, in which Tobacco Free Allegheny and the Allegheny County Health Department have joined forces to spread awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco use as well as secondhand smoke exposure, and deliver information about smoking cessation to community members; and
WHEREAS, compared to 15.1% of US residents and 18.1% of Pennsylvania residents, 19% of adult Allegheny County residents smoke; in Pennsylvania, approximately 22,000 adults die each year from smoking-related disease; smoking-caused health costs in Pennsylvania are estimated to be $6.38 billion annually; additionally, on average, it takes an individual 5-7 attempts to successfully stop tobacco use; and
WHEREAS, this third annual event, "Allegheny Quits for Life: Smoking Cessation Awareness Week," aims to educate the public and host events, as well as provide residents with various cessation resources to effectively stop tobacco use; and
WHEREAS, the first event of the weeklong awareness program will be "Merengue Monday," held on November 13th at Katz Plaza; this energizing event will be hosted by the Pittsburgh Mercy Health System's Dancing Classrooms, whose mission is to build positive social awareness, confidence, and self-esteem in children through the practice of social dance and curriculum-based teaching; and
WHEREAS, on Thursday, November 16th, Allegheny Quits for Life will encourage smokers in Pittsburgh to quit, even for one day, by taking part in the American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout event, which draws attention to preventing the deaths and chronic diseases caused by smoking and spreads awareness of cessation resources; and
WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh is proud to partner with Tobacco Free Allegheny and the Allegheny County Health Department on this important campaign, and we encourage all residents to take advantage of the events and resources offered dur...
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