Ashland — The same group that wants to launch a smoke-free initiative in Boyd County is encouraging participation in Thursday’s Great American Smokeout.

A coalition of local health officials and tobacco opponents is organizing the Boyd County Smoke-Free Initiative, the goal of which is to convince businesses to voluntarily go smoke free while putting in place countywide legislation barring smoking in public places.

The group also endorses the smokeout, created by the American Cancer Society to encourage smokers to quit that day or at least make a plan to quit.

April McClain, ACS community representative, said the organization dedicates the entire month of November to tobacco cessation and promoting resources ACS and local communities offer tobacco users to help them kick the habit. They range from online tips and tools available at www.cancer.org to personalized telephone coaching by trained specialists accessible via (800) ACS-2345.

Kentucky also offers a quit line — (800) QUIT-NOW — to help tobacco users develop a plan and access additional resources.

The Kentucky Institute of Medicine said 29 percent of Kentucky adults smoke — the third highest rate nationwide.

More than 23 percent of all deaths in Kentucky is attributed to smoking, the institute said. The cancer society said tobacco remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the United States.

Each year cigarette smoking causes 443,000 premature deaths, including 49,900 in nonsmokers.

The message is getting out, according to tobacco opponents.

Pathways ALERT Regional Prevention Center Director Amy Jeffers said Kentucky rates have been declining in recent years while at the same time smoke-free initiatives are picking up momentum statewide and nationally.

Jeffers said as people become more health conscious in general, she believes use of all forms of tobacco will continue to decline. But, she cautions, “We’re up against an industry that has lots of resources and is always looking for ways to come up with new products.

“I don’t think the fight will ever end in a certain way, but I think people are becoming much smarter about products. We are catching on a lot quicker. We have to keep fighting for people’s health.”

As for the plan to move Boyd County to the growing list of Kentucky counties and cities barring smoking in public places, she said, “We’re just kind of getting started. This is an outgrowth of our effort that got the smoke-free ordinance in Kentucky. One of our goals when we started that was to not leave out the rest of the county.”

Holly West, Ashland-Boyd County Health Department tobacco coordinator, said there “might be a long road ahead of us as far as Boyd County going smoke free. It might not be as easy as our initiative in Ashland, but I think it’s a task that is well worthwhile. I think it will improve the health of our community and our future as well. We’ll be working hard to do that.”

The first evidence of the campaign will be a new television commercial airing locally, created by the local coalition through a grant. The ad encourages residents in the FIVCO and Gateway area development districts to join the local smoke-free initiative.

“There is something for everyone to do. This will be a big initiative. It will be a large undertaking and we encourage everyone to get involved,” West said.

Those interested in joining the campaign may call West at the health eepartment at (606) 329-9444.

CARRIE STAMBAUGH can be reached at cstambaugh@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2653.