Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable disease, disability, and death in the United States. As of 2018, about 34 million US adults smoke cigarettes, and every day, about 1,600 young people under 18 try their first cigarette. In addition, 58 million people who don’t smoke are exposed to secondhand smoke every year.

CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health focuses on motivating US adults who smoke to try to quit through its Tips From Former Smokers^® (Tips^®) campaign. Tips features real people who are living with serious health conditions caused by smoking and secondhand smoke exposure. The newest Tips series adds compelling stories from family members who take care of loved ones affected by a smoking-related disease or disability.

Tips connects people who smoke with resources to help them quit, including 1-800-QUIT-NOW, which directs people to free services from their state quitlines.

CDC also funds comprehensive tobacco control activities nationwide through the National Tobacco Control Program to:

• Prevent young people from starting to use tobacco.
• Promote quitting among adults and young people.
• Reduce people’s exposure to secondhand smoke.
• Advance health equity by identifying and eliminating tobacco-related disparities.

What is the Georgia Tobacco Quit Line?

The Georgia Tobacco Quit Line is a public health service funded by the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement through the Georgia State Legislature. It is a FREE, confidential, and effective service available to assist Georgians with quitting smoking and all forms of tobacco AND alternative nicotine delivery systems, such as e-cigarettes and vaping devices. The quit line is monitored by GTUPP and partners with a national tobacco cessation vendor to provide telephone and web-based counseling services in accordance with the United States Public Health Service Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence Clinical Practice Guidelines. The services provided by the Georgia Tobacco Quit Line (GTQL) are effective, evidence-based interventions to help Georgians quit smoking and using any other smokeless tobacco products (i.e., dip or snuff).

Learn all about the Georgia Tobacco Quit Line by clicking on YOU Can QUIT! 

CDC’s Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity develops and shares proven approaches that make healthy living easier for everyone. CDC works with states, communities, and national partners to help increase healthy food options where people live, learn, work, and play. CDC also partners with states and communities to promote improvements in equitable community design that make physical activity safe and convenient for all persons.

People who are at high risk of developing a chronic disease or who already have a chronic disease can participate in CDC-approved programs that help them reduce their risk or keep their disease under control. Participants in these programs can learn and practice healthy behaviors with guidance and coaching from trained leaders.

CDC’s National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP), for example, is a public-private partnership working to build a nationwide system to deliver an affordable, evidence-based lifestyle change program proven to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. Participants in the lifestyle change program learn to make healthy food choices, be more physically active, and find ways to cope with problems and stress. These lifestyle changes can cut their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by as much as 58% (71% for those over 60). The program is delivered in person, online, by distance learning, and through a combination of these formats.

People with chronic diseases can also take part in self-management education (SME) programs to learn how to take care of themselves and reduce symptoms. They may learn how to get more physical activity and eat healthy, how to take medicine and work with their doctor, and how to deal with fatigue and stress.

CDC promotes SME programs for arthritis, asthma, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, epilepsy, and heart disease.