Thirty Days Without Cigarettes: Launching the Tenth Annual Mois sans tabac Campaign
The annual public health campaign known as Mois sans tabac officially opens its tenth edition, challenging individuals across France to quit smoking for thirty days.
In Plain English: The Clinical Takeaway
The Thirty-Day Threshold: The campaign aims to encourage participants to go thirty days without cigarettes, a milestone that multiplies by five the chances of quitting smoking long-term.
Multidisciplinary Support: Cessation support extends beyond physicians; nurses, midwives, dentists, and masseurs-kinésithérapeutes can also prescribe these treatments.
Metabolic Adjustments: Caffeine is eliminated less quickly when one stops smoking. Reducing one’s consumption can help limit nervousness and difficulty sleeping.
As the campaign gets underway, regional health authorities are deploying local resources to assist participants. According to reports from Agence Régionale de Santé (ARS) Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, 16 percent of adults aged 18 to 79 in the region reported daily smoking in 2024. Since its inception in 2016, the national campaign has engaged more than 2.5 million participants.
To support those attempting to quit, the initiative relies on an extensive network of accessible tools. Over 2,000 residents in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté registered ahead of the launch date, backed by more than 18,000 participating pharmacies nationwide. Free resources include the official digital portal, regional information stands in high-traffic public spaces, and the dedicated telephone hotline 39 89, where tabacologues—professionals specialized in smoking cessation—help patients construct personalized programs.
| Support Mechanism | Clinical Function | Accessibility |
|---|---|---|
| Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) | Alleviates lack of nicotine (irritability, nervousness, urgent urge to smoke) via forms such as patches and gums. | Prescription-backed by doctors, nurses, midwives, dentists, and masseurs-kinésithérapeutes; some references are not reimbursed. |
| Tabacologue Teleconsultation (39 89) | Provides behavioral counseling and helps build an adapted program. | Free access via telephone (first call charged at the price of a normal call), Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. |
| Digital Tracking (Tabac info service app) | Offers personalized advice and progress tracking. | Free mobile download for self-monitoring. |
Targeted Interventions and Scheduled Professional Webinars
Clinical outreach extends directly into community healthcare structures. Local medical establishments like the Clinique Esquirol Saint Hilaire in Agen have initiated specialized training sessions alongside the Ligue contre le cancer. These programs utilize motivational interviewing techniques to equip volunteers and healthcare workers with the tools needed to navigate nicotine dependence with patients.
Furthermore, ARS Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes has scheduled a series of professional webinars running through late November. A session on November 20, 2026, focuses on reducing damage related to tobacco in a context of precariousness, while a subsequent webinar on November 25, 2026, examines additional strategies.
When to Consult a Professional
If participants have questions or need to know where to start, they can contact a tabacologue. For those seeking to prepare their first day without tobacco, various professionals can be consulted for prescriptions.
Evaluating Long-Term Efficacy and Future Public Health Goals
Participating in the Mois sans tabac would multiply by five the chances of quitting smoking for good, and an adapted accompaniment would allow doubling the chances of success at one year. These synchronized regional efforts align directly with national objectives outlined in France’s Programme national de lutte contre le tabac 2023–2027. By integrating hospital networks into the “Lieux de santé sans tabac” initiative—which encompassed 86 establishments by late 2025—public health infrastructure aims to cultivate an environment where smoking cessation is supported.
References
- Santé publique France. Le Mois sans tabac: Campagne nationale de prévention du tabagisme.
- Agence Régionale de Santé (ARS) Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Programme régional de lutte contre le tabac 2024-2027.
- Tabac info service. Guide pratique pour l’arrêt du tabac et l’utilisation des substituts nicotiniques.
