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Great American Smokeout is Thursday

Make a plan to quit tobacco through Duke's resources and programs

On Thursday, staff from LIVE FOR LIFE, Duke's employee wellness program, will take to the hallways and dining areas across Duke's health system as part of the American Cancer Society's Great American Smokeout.

The annual event is held to encourage smokers to make a plan to quit or quit smoking on the third Thursday in November.

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"The benefit of the Great American Smokeout is it helps set a timeline for a quit plan, which is very important," said Diane Dunder, LIVE FOR LIFE's smoking cessation specialist. "Once you set a plan, you have something to work toward and that can help line up treatment through our cessation programs."

LIVE FOR LIFE will set up information tables at the Duke Hospital Atrium Cafe, Duke Clinic food court, Durham Regional Hospital cafeteria and the Duke Raleigh Hospital cafe. Staff will be on-hand at each location from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday to provide information for those quitting or preparing to quit. Employees can stop by for cessation information and to enter in a raffle for 500 LIVE FOR LIFE dollars, fake money that can be applied toward purchases in the LIVE FOR LIFE store.

While this week brings the annual Great American Smokeout, 2012 marks the fifth year the Duke Medical Center has been tobacco free. Duke offers a variety of tobacco cessation tools, including classes, phone counseling, and prescription smoking cessation drugs.