The Great American Smokeout: How to Quit and How Digital Health Can Help

Each year, on the third Thursday of November, the Great American Smokeout encourages millions of people across the country to work towards improving their health by quitting tobacco, even if just for one day. Sponsored by the American Cancer Society, the event is not just about a single day without smoking; it is about turning that one day into the first of many on a lifelong journey to achieving better health.

For those already engaged in telehealth or digital care, the Smokeout is also a great reminder of how technology can be an ally in quitting — offering access, accountability, and support at your fingertips.

Tobacco Use and Chronic Health Conditions

Despite decades of progress in public health, tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of death in the United States, responsible for nearly 480,000 deaths each year. Smoking significantly increases the risk of cancer, heart disease, stroke, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Even secondhand smoke contributes to illness and premature death.

For people living with chronic conditions, quitting tobacco can dramatically improve outcomes. Better circulation, stronger lung function, and reduced inflammation can be seen within weeks of quitting. For telehealth patients managing long-term conditions like diabetes or hypertension, eliminating tobacco use can enhance treatment effectiveness and overall quality of life.

The Great American Smokeout gives patients and providers a shared opportunity to talk openly about tobacco use. It can also connect those ready to quit with the virtual support and digital tools that make success more attainable.

Paths to Quitting

Quitting smoking is not easy – it is both a physical and behavioral challenge. But support is more accessible than ever before, especially thanks to accessible digital health tools. Telehealth programs, online coaching, and quit lines offer counseling from trained professionals who can help patients create personalized quit plans, manage cravings, and navigate setbacks.

Nicotine replacement therapies (like patches or lozenges) and FDA-approved medications can also be prescribed and managed through telehealth visits. These treatments are most effective when paired with counseling — and digital platforms make it easy to combine both.

There are multiple state-sponsored programs that can help all of those who are trying to quit. One example is Quit Now Indiana (QNI), the program run through the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) Division of Tobacco Prevention and Cessation. The QNI program provides coaching, nicotine replacement medication, and online services and support.

QNI is not the only active program in our region. Illinois provides the Illinois Tobacco Quitline (ITQL) through the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) while the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) supports cessation via its Tobacco Section, including the Michigan Tobacco Quitlink. The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) supports state cessation services under its Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation Program (TUPCP) and makes available the Ohio Tobacco Quit Line.

These programs may differ, but they’re all dedicated to one thing – helping people quit tobacco and work towards a healthier future for themselves and their communities.

How Digital Health Can Help You Quit

Digital health has redefined how people access care — and tobacco cessation is no exception. For many, the flexibility and convenience of telehealth and mobile tools make quitting more achievable than ever. All the programs mentioned above have aspects of digital health available to help their participants quit.

Telehealth Support

Through telehealth, patients can connect with healthcare providers or behavioral health specialists from anywhere. Virtual visits allow for evidence-based counseling, follow-up check-ins, and medication management without the barriers of travel or scheduling challenges.

During the pandemic, many health systems expanded telehealth tobacco cessation programs — and studies show these virtual interventions are just as effective as in-person care. They also allow for frequent, brief check-ins, which can help maintain motivation during the early weeks of quitting.

Digital Tools and Apps

Beyond virtual visits, digital health tools can keep the momentum going between appointments. Mobile apps and text-based programs can track progress, deliver motivational reminders, and even suggest personalized coping strategies when cravings hit.

Recent research has shown that digital interventions — especially those using tailored messaging — significantly improve quit rates compared to standard care. For example, a 2025 Nature Human Behaviour study found that personalized digital support nearly doubled quit success rates.

These tools give patients around-the-clock encouragement and guidance, helping them stay connected to their care journey. And for providers, integrating these apps or text programs into virtual care plans can help reinforce accountability and sustain engagement.

Bringing It All Together

The Great American Smokeout is a chance to celebrate progress, start fresh, and lean on the tools that make quitting possible. For telehealth users and providers alike, it’s an opportunity to combine traditional cessation methods with modern digital support — creating a holistic, patient-centered approach to quitting tobacco.

If you are a patient, consider using your telehealth platform to talk with your provider about tobacco cessation options or digital tools that can support you along the way. If you are a provider, the Smokeout is a great time to check in with patients, offer encouragement, and connect them to virtual cessation programs.

Quitting is not easy, but it can be done. And telehealth and digital health working together makes quitting more accessible, more personalized, and more successful than ever.

Looking to Quit? Start Here:

• American Cancer Society. Great American Smokeout
• Indiana – Quit Now Indiana (QNI) or 1-800-784-8669
• Illinois - Illinois Tobacco Quitline (ITQL) or 1-866-QUIT-YES
• Michigan - Michigan Tobacco Quitlink or 1-800-784-8669
• Ohio - Ohio Tobacco Quit Line or 1-800-784-8669