WHEREAS, the United States Surgeon General   has stated  that smoking  remains the single most preventable cause of premature death in our society; and

WHEREAS, cigarette smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke account  for 480,000 deaths each year in the United States, including the deaths of 11,400 Tennesseans; and

WHEREAS, 125 ,000 Tennesseans  underage 18 who are alive today  will ultimately die from smoking unless  smoking rates decline;  and

WHEREAS, productivity losses  caused by smoking each  year equal $3.6 billion in

Tennessee; and

WHEREAS, quitting smoking greatly reduces the risk of developing  smoking-related diseases ; and

WHEREAS, Tennessee Quit Week is a campaign to promote the  importance of  and resources for quitting smoking in Tennessee; and

WHEREAS, dedicating a week  to promote smoking cessation will encourage tobacco users  to call the Tennessee Tobacco Ouitline and make a quit plan,

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Tim Stribling,  Mayor of DeKalb County, do  hereby proclaim the week of February 3-7, 2020 as TENNESSEE QUIT WEEK in DeKalb County and encourage all cilizens to join me in this worthy  observance.

DeKalb County Mayor