CDC Releases New Ads About Smoking’s Harm

Dear Colleague, The Tips From Former Smokers (Tips) campaign resumes today, July 7th, with powerful new ads that feature seven people whose lives have been permanently affected by smoking. You can see these ads today at CDC.gov/tips.   The new ads focus on severe gum disease with tooth loss; lung cancer; head and neck cancer; preterm birth; and the health effects of smoking combined with HIV. Information About the July Ad Buy Beginning July 7th, the ads will run nationwide for 9 weeks on television, radio,billboards, online media, and in theaters, magazines, and newspapers. Ad participants include: o   Felicita and Brett, smokers who each started losing teeth to gum disease by age 40. o   Amanda, a young mother who smoked during pregnancy and gave birth 2 months early. o   Rose, who nearly lost a foot because of clogged blood vessels, then learned she had lung cancer, which later spread to her brain. o   Shawn, who developed throat cancer and lost his larynx. o   Brian, who was in good health and managing his HIV when smoking led to a stroke. o   Terrie, who has appeared in previous Tips campaigns, and shares a plea about quitting. Two Spanish-language ads will run on national Spanish media channels. One features Rose, who has lung cancer, while a second features Felicita and Brett, who both lost teeth after smoking.   Watch all the ads at our campaign Web site, CDC.gov/tips. A CDC feature article—Smokers’ Stories: Lost Teeth, a Preterm Baby—supports the campaign launch. It highlights the people featured in the July campaign and has embedded videos that make it easy to view the ads. Readers will also find quick links to resources that can help quit smoking.  Information will be shared via social media. Follow @CDCTobaccoFree or #CDCTips on Facebook and Twitter and look for Tips From Former Smokers onPinterest. Subscribe to the Smoking & Tobacco Use playlist on YouTube for the latest updates. Resources and Promotion A CDC feature article—Smokers’ Stories: Lost Teeth, a Preterm Baby—supports the campaign launch. It highlights the people featured in the July campaign and has embedded videos that make it easy to view the ads. Readers will also find quick links to resources that can help quit smoking.  Information will be shared via social media. Follow @CDCTobaccoFree or #CDCTips on Facebook and Twitter and look for Tips From Former Smokers onPinterest. Subscribe to the Smoking & Tobacco Use playlist on YouTube for the latest updates. CDC.gov/tips has comprehensive resources, including: o   Bios and additional interviews of the ad participants o   Overviews of the health conditions featured in the campaign o   Spanish-language content o   “I’m Ready to Quit” practical tips for quitting smoking o   Web badges and buttons to post on your site to link readers to the compelling personal stories on the Tips Web site o   Prewritten matte articles that you can tailor for your newsletter, blog, or Web site o   Printable Tips ads to hang in your workplace Free materialsare available at the Tips From Former Smokers Download Center: plowsharegroup.com/cdctips.These include low-resolution TV ads; radio, online, print, and out-of-home ads; and public service announcements.   CDC’s Media Campaign Resource Center (MCRC) at CDC.gov/tobacco/MCRC offers broadcast-quality Tips ads and other tobacco counter-marketing ads for paid campaigns.   Faith leaders, public health advocates, health care providers, and other partners can find materials to answer questions about Tips ads—and guidance on how to start a conversation about quitting. o   CDC.gov/tips partner pages offer posters, FAQs about quitlines, fact sheets for patients, a pocket-sized brief intervention card for office visits, a quick reference guide on treating tobacco dependence, and much more. If you have additional questions about the 2014 Tips campaign, please contact TobaccoMediaCampaign@cdc.gov

Sincerely, CDC’s Office of Smoking and Health