What’s up with these new smoking commercials?
Hard-hitting commercials tell the stories of people affected by smoking
You may have already noticed some familiar commercials on TV about smoking. These commercials feature real people living with the long-term damage caused by smoking. They’re part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) tobacco education campaign, called Tips From Former Smokers® (Tips®).
But these commercials aren’t just about people who smoke — they also show how smoking affects their loved ones.
Stories such as Asaad and Leah M’s. Leah started smoking as a teenager and was diagnosed with colorectal cancer at age 45. Leah’s son, Asaad, was 19 at the time. He became Leah’s full-time caregiver. He cooks meals, manages a household budget, schedules doctors’ appointments, and keeps his mother’s spirits up.
Jessica S. is a single parent. When her son Aden was 3, he was diagnosed with asthma. Jessica’s mother, who watched Aden during the day while Jessica was at work, used to smoke. Exposure to secondhand smoke triggered many of his life-threatening asthma attacks.
CDC first launched the Tips campaign in 2012 to lower smoking rates and save lives. As Tips enters its 10th year, it’s been proven to be a very effective campaign. The CDC estimates that a million people successfully quit smoking, and over 16 million tried to quit between 2012–2018, thanks to Tips.
“While some of these ads can be difficult to watch, they show the challenges that real people face every day as a result of smoking in a way that statistics cannot,” said Deirdre Lawrence Kittner, PhD, MPH, director of CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health. “By providing information, resources, and motivation, the Tips campaign has proven to be highly effective in helping people across the country quit smoking.”
Not only does Tips highlight the deaths related to smoking, but the lives affected by it. For every person who dies because of smoking, at least 30 people live with a serious smoking-related illness. And with COVID-19, smoking only adds to the complications that can arise.
“Quitting smoking is more important than ever, as smoking increases risk of severe illness from COVID-19,” said Nick Fradkin, tobacco treatment consultant at DOH. “We are committed to helping Washington state residents understand the reality of smoking-related disease and death — and to prevent these realities from happening to them.”
If you want to quit smoking, Fradkin points to the Washington State Quitline as a great resource for help. Trained Quit Coaches can provide free, one-on-one, personalized counseling. To get started:
- Call 1–800-QUIT-NOW (1–800–784–8669)
- Text READY to 200–400
- Visit Quitline.com
For more information about the Tips campaign and resources for quitting smoking, visit CDC.gov/tips.
COVID information
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Answers to your questions or concerns about COVID-19 in Washington state may be found at our website. You can also contact the Department of Health call center at 1–800–525–0127 and press # from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday, and 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday — Sunday and observed state holidays. Language assistance is available.
