Medicine: Cold Turkey

Another no-smoking day

In a 1971 comedy film called Cold Turkey, an entire Iowa town tried to give up smoking for 30 days and actually succeeded. This week the American Cancer Society will try to do Hollywood one better. It is asking all U.S. cigarette users, some 50 million people, to stop smoking for one day, Thursday, Nov. 16. The long-range objective of the third annual Great American Smokeout is even more ambitious: permanent withdrawal. That is not entirely a pipedream. Of the estimated 5 million people who gave up smoking for a day last...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!