A headline to an AP story that appeared in our newspaper Tuesday caught my eye: "Appalachian residents suffer more from cancer."

This article was about a report by the American Cancer Society and the Ohio Department of Health. According to the report, the 29-county southeastern Ohio region, which includes Lawrence County, "is plagued by poverty, limited medical resources, lack of education and a higher incidents of unhealthy lifestyle choices." Highest among those unhealthy lifestyle choices is smoking.

According to this report, the lung-cancer rate in Appalachian Ohio is 10.8 percent higher than in the rest of the state and the mortality rate is 9 percent higher. The Ohio Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System reports about 31 percent of Appalachian residents 18 or older smoke, compared to 26 percent in the rest of Ohio.

Since lung cancer is primarily caused by smoking, this region-wide habit plays a significant role in our high percentage of people with lung cancer.

I think it is safe to say just about everyone agrees that it is a bad idea to start smoking, but stopping is much more difficult than it sounds. If it were easy, few people would continue to smoke.

Tomorrow would be the perfect time to quit - the Great American Smokeout. The 27th annual nationwide drive to curb tobacco use, sponsored by the American Cancer Society, serves as an incentive for those who want to kicking the habit. During the smokeout, smokers are encouraged to quit for just one day. Some will see it is an attainable goal and they will continue their quest for freedom from tobacco. They say the first days a person quitting goes without tobacco are the most difficult, so if you make it through that first day without it, chances are you can be in it for the long haul.

Lawrence County residents who want to quit using tobacco will soon have support.

The Appalachian Family & Children First Council was recently awarded a $750,000 grant by the Ohio Tobacco Use Prevention and Control Foundation to provide prevention

services in Lawrence County. The council will focus on three objectives: reducing exposure to environmental and secondhand smoke; reducing the initiation of first use among youth; and increasing cessation programs throughout the county.

Even though I am not a smoker, I plan to use the Smokeout to address my habit - smokeless tobacco. I have been contemplating quitting for several months now, but my son really made me think the other day when he noticed a can of snuff in my car.

He said, "Dad, when are you going to quit that stuff? Don't you know it's a drug? It can kill you."

Strong words from a 10-year-old, but he was right on the money. Why would someone want to put their health - or even life - at risk? If a child can see this, why can't I?

It is not like I can't quit. Even though I have been using snuff for the better part of 20 years, I have quit on two occasions, both times for six months. Why I started back up - twice - I will never know, but it is time to quit for good.

Therefore, I plan to participate in the Smokeout and I urge anyone who smokes or uses smokeless tobacco to join me in trying to give up the habit tomorrow.

Shawn Doyle is managing editor of The Ironton Tribune. He can be reached by calling (740) 532-1445 ext. 19 or by e-mail to shawn.doyle@irontontribune.com