New Graphic Anti-Smoking Campaign Ads Revealed By The CDC

Date: Mar-29-2013On Thursday, a graphic public service announcement on the dangers of smoking was released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The new ads feature emotional stories of ex-smokers who have suffered the harmful effects of smoking.

They come as a follow-up to last year's campaign "Tips From Former Smokers", released by the CDC. Just one year ago they announced a  $54 million campaign consisting of TV, print, billboards, and radio ads that showed real people whose lives were altered because of smoking.

Dr. Tom Frieden, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said during a late-morning press conference:

"Last year's campaign exceeded our very high expectations, and this year's campaign continues in that vein of showing the realities of smoking. It takes what we as doctors see day in and day out and draws back the curtain from the examining room and shows the realities smokers live with day in and day out."

The new ads will run for 12 weeks, starting on April 1st in all media outlets and are funded by the Affordable Care Act. Officials are aiming to increase the success from last year.

Last year's campaign caused double the number of calls to the government phone number, 1-800-QUIT-NOW, and a five-fold increase to the website, smokefree.org.

Frieden explained in regard to the ads:

"They save lives and they save money. Today and every day this year, more than 1,200 people will be killed by tobacco, and today and throughout this year 8 million people are living with disease, disability and disfigurement caused by tobacco -- that's the reality."

People in the ads released in April have a range of smoking-related illnesses or complications such as:
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
kidney failure
amputation
heart disease
severe adult asthma
diabetes
blindness
In one of the ads, a woman named Tiffany tells the story of her mother who died of lung cancer when she was just 16. Tiffany explains that she recently quit smoking so her own daughter who just reached the age of 16 would not have to suffer the way she had.

A separate ad tells the tale of Nathan, who has severe lung damage from being exposed to secondhand smoke at his job.

In 2012, over 440,000 Americans died from smoking-related diseases - and for each death, 20 more living people have one or more serious illnesses from smoking. Close to 70 percent of smokers express the desire to quit, according to the CDC.

In January of this year, a separate study reported that quitting smoking by the age of 40 brings life expectancy back to normal.

Written by Kelly Fitzgerald

Copyright: Medical News Today

Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today
Courtesy: Medical News Today Note: Any medical information available in this news section is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional.