A program that has proven its worth since its launch in 2016: to date, more than 900,000 people have signed up for the major smoking cessation challenge.

Now an annual staple, Tobacco-Free Month offers smokers personalized support for quitting and is expanding its program this year with a new service that makes it easier for them to access a consultation to help them quit. Smokers are invited to register throughout the month of October via the dedicated website and to start preparing now to take on this challenge beginning November 1.

During Tobacco-Free Month, in November, we’re all quitting together

Tobacco remains the leading preventable cause of death in France today. While there was a decline in smoking in mainland France of 1.9 million daily smokers between 2014 and 2019, the latest results from the Santé publique France Barometer1, published in May 2021, show that prevalence stabilized in 2020, with 25.5% of daily smokers, showing no significant change compared to 2019.

Combating tobacco use remains a public health priority. With “Smoke-Free Month,” Santé publique France invites smokers to join a collective effort to quit smoking together for one month in November. These 30 days are crucial because they increase the chances of quitting smoking permanently by five times once this initial challenge is met. After 30 days, withdrawal symptoms (nervousness, irritability) are significantly reduced.

Preparing for quitting: an essential step for success

Because help from a healthcare professional increases the chances of successfully quitting by 70%, Mois sans tabac makes it easier to schedule a consultation with a healthcare professional. Through a dedicated section on the website, each participant can find a smoking cessation support session that meets their needs: an in-person consultation with a healthcare professional, a phone consultation via 39 89, individual or group sessions near their home, or via video conference. The goal: to make the program even more effective and increase participants’ chances of success.

As part of the “Smoke-Free Month 2021” Call for Projects led by the French Health Insurance Fund, more than 300 smoking cessation support projects were selected, demonstrating strong engagement for this 6th edition of Smoke-Free Month.

Among the must-visit resources this year to get information, choose a quit strategy, and get ready:

1. The tabac-info–service.fr website, a major resource for smoking cessation support.

2. The Tabac info service e-coaching app, developed by the French National Health Insurance in partnership with Santé publique France and with the support of the Francophone Society of Tobacco Control, has been updated and offers a comprehensive, personalized e-coaching program to maximize your chances of quitting for good (tips, support videos, tracking the daily benefits of quitting, etc.)

3. Santé publique France invites participants to join them on social media. By following their Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages, smokers can find daily support within the community, useful information, and advice to help them navigate the withdrawal phase.

4. A “Month Without Tobacco” quit-smoking kit including the 40-day program—comprising two phases: 10 days of preparation and 30 days of the challenge—a savings wheel, and this year, two informational flyers: one detailing the various tools available to quit smoking and the other explaining how to seek support from a healthcare professional to help with quitting.

3 new ambassadors for this 6th edition of Mois Sans Tabac

France’s leading broadcasters are renewing their support for the “Month Without Tobacco” initiative, represented this year by three ambassadors: Christophe Beaugrand-Gérin (TF1 Group), Adriana Karembeu (France Télévisions), and Stéphane Plaza (M6 Group).

The three hosts will talk with former smokers about their motivations, tips, and fears. They encourage smokers to sign up for Tobacco-Free Month and offer practical solutions to meet this challenge through 10 30-second TV spots.