Great American Smokeout
2022
After several months of planning the first Great American Smokeout event in collaboration with AHN Jefferson Hospital, it came to life on November 17th, 2022. The goal of the event was to kick off “Tobacco Free Tuesdays” at Jefferson Hospital where 500 hospital staff/providers/and assistants will wear their “Breathe Free, Live Free” t-shirts every Tuesday to help encourage patients to ask about smoking cessation programs and available resources Since the partnership began in January 2021, Tobacco Free Adagio Health has received over 200 referrals from Jefferson Hospital.
Rachel Bowden, Healthcare Coordinator, and Hannah Cristofano, Allegheny County Program Manager, from Tobacco Free Adagio Health led the event alongside the AHN Nurse education team, AHN COPD team, Duquesne Pharmacy students, and volunteers from the hospital. TFAH distributed 500 t-shirts, tobacco education information, carbon monoxide tests, COPD resources, Nicotine Replacement Therapy information, and free blood pressure screenings for hospital staff.
Four therapy dogs attended and were an excellent addition to the celebration. Hospital staff that visited the table wearing their "Breathe Free, Live Free" t-shirt were entered into a gift basket raffle. Over 200 people visited the table wearing their t-shirts and entered the raffle. Several staff were eager to tell us how many referrals they’ve sent over so far and shared their plans to expand Tobacco Free Tuesdays moving forward. It was an amazing opportunity to kick off Tobacco Free Tuesdays, hand out Quitline and TFAH information, and talk to such a passionate group of people. We are so thankful for the cessation champions at AHN Jefferson!
Past Years
Events in Pittsburgh's East End
In Pittsburgh’s East End neighborhoods, Tobacco Free Adagio Health was proud to see the East Pittsburgh borough pass a Young Lungs at Play policy, while also recognizing the Great American Smokeout at their local Senior Citizens Center. Tobacco Free Adagio Health Policy Coordinator, Grant Young and other staff also met with 30 East End community members who expressed an interest in quitting smoking.
Wilkinsburg Proclamation Ceremony
Wilkinsburg Mayor Marita Garrett joined Casey Monroe, Adagio Health Senior Director of Health Promotion & Disease Prevention and Adagio Health President and CEO, BJ Leber for a proclamation ceremony in recognition of the importance of cessation efforts and tobacco free policies that promote the health of all residents in Wilkinsburg.
View the Wilkinsburg Proclamation
Montour Middle School Vaping Presentation
Pictured: Carlyn Becker
Hannah Cristofano, TFAH AC Youth Services Coordinator along with AC Health Educator, Carlyn Becker visited Montour middle school and present to 75 students on the importance of TPC and how not to start smoking/vaping. During the presentation students were encouraged to share their personal experiences and how to support family and friends who have been affected negatively by the use of nicotine.
Steel Valley High School Tobacco Resistance Unit (TRU)
Steel Valley High School’s TRU group created a video about the dangers of vaping and presented it to middle school students. High school TRU members also walked the halls handing out lollipops and literature (supplied by Tobacco Free Adagio Health) to both high school and middle school students.
Cambria County
Portage High School Events
Portage High School celebrated the Great American Smokeout all week long with five days of events focused on both quitting and never starting tobacco or nicotine products.
Somerset County
Commissioners Proclamation
Somerset County Commissioners implemented new tobacco-free policies in honor of the Great American Smokeout.
View the Somerset Proclamation