While there is good news about youth and adult smoking – both are on the decline – too many Maine residents still smoke. For those trying to quit, this year’s Great American Smokeout, the 29th iteration of which takes place today, is as good a time as any to kick the smoking habit.

Nationally, about 22 percent of the adult population smokes, down from

42 percent in 1965. In Maine, nearly 24 percent of adults smoke, costing the state more than $550 million a year through health care costs. Tobacco is responsible for 440,000 deaths a year nationally. Smoking accounts for one-third of all cancer deaths and 87 percent of lung cancer deaths.

In Maine, 3,300 new smokers are thought to take up the habit each year, according to the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids. There is a lot of work to do.

A recent study by researchers at Dartmouth College found that children as young as 2 years old knew what cigarettes were and bought them in a pretend store in preparation for a night out.

In a role-playing study, 28 percent of children ages 2 to 6 bought cigarettes

in the fake store stocked with 133 items including fruit, vegetables, candy, beverages and medicine. No surprise: children whose parents smoked were four times more likely to buy cigarettes.

The finding suggests that tobacco prevention messages can’t begin when children are in high school, but must start shortly after birth. Even better, getting the message to parents – and encouraging them to quit – will benefit two generations.

An important first step to quitting in Maine is to call the state’s tobacco help line (1-800-207-1230). Those who call will be contacted by a trained counselor who will help develop a quitting plan and timetable. A packet of materials and additional phone calls will follow. Thanks to the state’s use of tobacco settlement funds, those who wish may get a prescription for free smoking cessation patches or gum to assist them. Nearly a quarter of the people who have called the help line were not smoking six months later.

Whether or not you have children, this is a great day to quit smoking.