The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Tips From Former Smokers® (Tips®) campaign returns this year with a fresh set of advertisements aimed at encouraging people to quit smoking. The campaign offers free resources to support adults in their journey to quit smoking, providing practical tools and inspirational stories. Proven to be highly effective, the Tips campaign has helped over one million U.S. adults successfully quit smoking and has inspired millions more to make an attempt. By highlighting the real-life consequences of smoking and offering vital support, the campaign continues to save lives and contribute to public health.
Tips shares the stories of over 45 courageous individuals from diverse backgrounds who have experienced the severe long-term health effects of smoking and secondhand smoke exposure. The new 2024 ads feature the following people:
- Angie P. smoked menthol cigarettes because she thought it would help her cope with the fear that people around her would not accept that she is gay. She smoked for 26 years. She wants to encourage other LGBTQ+ people who smoke to love themselves and protect their health by quitting smoking.
- Elizabeth B. and Stephen B. Elizabeth smoked menthol cigarettes for 35 years. She has smoking-related peripheral artery disease, which makes walking difficult and sometimes painful. She also developed kidney cancer. Her husband, Stephen, helps take care of her.
- Ethan B. smoked menthol cigarettes for 39 years. He grew up seeing ads that convinced him smoking menthol cigarettes was “cool.” As an adult, he had multiple smoking-related strokes.
- John B. smoked for 22 years. He tried several different ways to quit smoking, but nothing seemed to work. He kept trying until he found the methods that worked best for him. Those methods included counseling and two quit-smoking medicines.
- Noel S. smoked menthol cigarettes for more than 20 years. He suffered a smoking-related heart attack at age 36. Noel quit smoking so he could be around to watch his younger family members grow up.
- Tammy W. ate healthy, exercised regularly, and ran marathons. She also smoked menthol cigarettes for 23 years. She told herself that menthol cigarettes were less harmful than non-menthol cigarettes. At age 44, she had severe heart disease and needed open heart surgery.
“While cigarette smoking among adults has declined, it remains the leading cause of preventable disease, disability and death in the United States, and some groups continue to be affected more than others,” said Deirdre Lawrence Kittner, PhD, MPH, Director of CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health. “The Tips campaign reaches adults with compelling messages and information to motivate them to quit smoking. It also promotes free resources that can help them quit – no matter who they are or where they live.”
Deirdre Lawrence Kittner, PhD, MPH, Director of CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health
With over 45 courageous individuals sharing their powerful stories of the severe long-term health effects of smoking and secondhand smoke, the Tips From Former Smokers® campaign is an invaluable resource. We encourage you to explore this impactful campaign and utilize the free resources available if you or someone you know needs support in quitting smoking. Take the first step towards a healthier future—check out the Tips campaign today and find the help and inspiration you need to quit for good.
Reference: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/p0505-smokers-tips.html
