Lighting the Way to a Smoke-Free Future: Reflections on the Great American Smokeout – Barnstable County (.gov)

Report on Public Health Initiatives and Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: The Great American Smokeout and SDG 3

On November 19, 2025, the American Cancer Society (ACS) promoted its annual Great American Smokeout initiative. This event serves as a critical public health intervention aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being. The campaign encourages smoking cessation, directly contributing to Target 3.4, which aims to reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) through prevention and treatment. It also supports Target 3.a, which calls for strengthening the implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

Tobacco Use as a Barrier to Health and Well-being

Tobacco use remains a significant impediment to achieving global health targets. It is the single largest preventable cause of cancer in the United States, presenting a direct challenge to ensuring healthy lives for all. Key data underscores the severity of this public health issue:

• Over 80% of lung cancer deaths are directly attributed to tobacco use.
• Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in the U.S., accounting for approximately one in five such fatalities.
• In 2023, ACS estimated 238,300 new lung cancer cases and 127,000 deaths from the disease.

Progress and Persistent Challenges in Tobacco Control

Decades of concerted tobacco control efforts have yielded substantial progress, demonstrating the potential to achieve SDG 3 targets. However, significant challenges persist.

Key Achievements:

1. The prevalence of adult cigarette use in the U.S. declined from approximately 42% in the mid-1960s to just 11% in 2023.
2. Between 1970 and 2022, an estimated 3.9 million premature lung cancer deaths were averted due to reductions in smoking.
3. The quit ratio, representing the proportion of former smokers among those who have ever smoked, reached a record 62% in 2022.

Despite these gains, the fight against tobacco-related NCDs is ongoing. The high number of annual cases and deaths highlights the continued need for robust public health action.

Addressing Health Disparities in Line with SDG 10

The data reveals significant disparities in tobacco cessation and healthcare access, which directly relates to SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities. Ensuring equal opportunity and reducing inequalities of outcome are central to sustainable development. Current challenges include:

• Lower rates of quit attempts and success are observed among older adults, individuals with lower income, and certain racial or ethnic communities.
• The utilization of lung cancer screening is critically low, with only 18.1% of eligible adults being up-to-date with screening in 2022.

These disparities indicate that the benefits of tobacco control are not being shared equally, hindering progress towards a more equitable and healthy society.

Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships for Sustainable Health (SDG 17)

The Great American Smokeout exemplifies the importance of SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals. The initiative mobilizes a multi-stakeholder coalition to advance public health objectives. Its framework encourages action at multiple levels:

• Individuals: Empowering people who smoke to create and commit to a cessation plan.
• Communities: Highlighting the role of friends and family in providing the support necessary for successful quitting attempts.
• Institutions and Policymakers: Serving as a call to action for strengthening tobacco control policies, ensuring equitable access to cessation programs, and promoting widespread lung cancer screening.

By fostering collaboration among individuals, communities, and public health organizations, the initiative strengthens the collective effort required to achieve sustainable health outcomes for all.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: This is the primary SDG addressed. The article focuses extensively on public health issues, specifically the prevention and control of a non-communicable disease (lung cancer) by tackling a major risk factor (smoking). It discusses reducing premature mortality, promoting health through cessation programs, and the importance of preventative measures like screening.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The article touches upon this goal by highlighting disparities in health outcomes and access to care. It explicitly states that “quit attempts and success are lower among older adults, people with lower income, and certain racial or ethnic communities,” pointing to inequalities that need to be addressed to achieve universal health progress. The call for “equitable access to cessation programs” further reinforces this connection.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.
   • The article directly relates to this target by focusing on lung cancer, a major non-communicable disease. The entire “Great American Smokeout” initiative is a preventative measure aimed at reducing the incidence of smoking-related diseases and, consequently, premature deaths. The statistic that “nearly 3.9 million premature lung cancer deaths were averted” between 1970 and 2022 shows a direct effort and progress related to this target.
2. Target 3.a: Strengthen the implementation of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in all countries, as appropriate.
   • The article’s emphasis on “decades of tobacco control efforts” and the call for policymakers to “push for stronger tobacco control” align perfectly with this target. The event itself is a public health campaign that supports the goals of tobacco control by encouraging cessation and raising awareness.
3. Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.
   • While the target is broad, its principle is reflected in the article’s identification of health disparities. By noting that quit success is lower among specific demographic groups (older adults, lower-income, certain racial communities), the article highlights an inequality in health outcomes that needs to be addressed, which is a core aspect of this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator 3.4.1 (Mortality rate attributed to cancer): The article provides specific data that serves as a direct measure for this indicator at a national level. It states there were “roughly 127,000 deaths from lung cancer” in 2023 and that lung cancer accounts for “about one in five cancer-related deaths.”
• Indicator 3.a.1 (Prevalence of current tobacco use): The article directly reports on this indicator, stating that in 2023, “just 11% of U.S. adults reported current cigarette use.” It also provides historical context by comparing this to “around 42% in the mid-1960s,” showing progress over time.
• Implied Indicator (Quit Ratio): The article introduces the “quit ratio” as a measure of cessation success, reporting it “hit a record 62% in 2022.” This can be used to measure the effectiveness of tobacco control and cessation programs.
• Implied Indicator (Access to and Utilization of Health Services): The statistic that “only 18.1% of eligible adults who currently or formerly smoked were up to date with lung cancer screening in 2022” serves as an indicator for the utilization of preventative health services, which is crucial for early detection and reducing mortality.
• Implied Indicator (Disparity in Health Outcomes): The statement that “quit attempts and success are lower among older adults, people with lower income, and certain racial or ethnic communities” acts as a qualitative indicator for Target 10.2, highlighting areas where health equity has not been achieved.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: capecod.gov