CDC Tries to Shock Smokers into Quitting

The government wants graphic images of lost limbs, tracheotomy holes and paralysis to shock smokers into quitting. The CDC is using former smokers with serious diseases in an ad campaign to try and decrease the nation's stubborn smoking rate. (March 15)

Published

about 1 year ago

Categories

Health, Nutrition & Wellness

Topics

Health

Tags

tobacco, centers for disease control and prevention, anti-smoking, smoking risks, smoking, smokers, cdc, nutrition & wellness

Transcript

Script(NAT SOUND from new ad)"Crouch, don't bend over, you don't want to lose the food in your stomach."IT'S AN IMAGE THAT COULD MAKE ALMOST ANYONE LOSE THEIR STOMACH, BUT OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS AMERICANS WILL SEE MORE GRAPHIC MESSAGES LIKE THESE.(NAT SOUND from new ad)"I want to give you some tips about getting ready in the morning."WITH THE U-S SMOKING RATE STALLED AT NEARLY 20% AMONG ADULTS.... THE GOVERNMENT IS PUTTING FORMER SMOKERS, NOW COPING WITH SERIOUS SMOKING-RELATED DISEASES, IN A NEW 54-MILLION-DOLLAR NATION-WIDE AD CAMPAIGN.THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL WANTS THE MESSAGE OF LOST LIMBS, TRACHEOTOMY HOLES...(NAT SOUND from new ad)"Don't face the shower head"... AND PARALYSIS TO SHOCK SMOKERS INTO QUITTING AND SCARE TEENS FROM EVEN STARTING.(SOT - Secy. Sebelius)(SUPER = Kathleen Sebelius, Secy. Health and Human Services)"Tobacco in this country continues to kill 443,000 Americans every year, and for every person who dies from smoking, at least two new young smokers take their place."SEBELIUS ANNOUNCED THE CAMPAIGN THURSDAY IN WASHINGTON. (SUPER = Washington)THE C-D-C BELIEVES IT'LL CONVINCE UP TO 50,000 SMOKERS TO QUIT.. WHEN OTHER MEASURES OF RECENT YEARS, LIKE TOBACCO TAXES AND SMOKING BANS, HAVEN'T BUDGED THE NATION'S SMOKING RATE... EVEN THOUGH IT HAD BEEN ON THE DECLINE FOR DECADES. (SOT - American Cancer Society)(SUPER = Gregg Haifley, American Cancer Society)"There is evidence from the countries that have done graphic ads that they can have a significant impact on reinforcing people's intention to quit." CANADA AND THE U-K ARE AMONG THOSE WHO HAVE TRIED THEM, BUT IT'S STILL UNCLEAR IF THE ADS DO CONVINCE PEOPLE WHO *INTEND* ON QUITTING TO ACTUALLY QUIT.SOME EXPERTS HAVE FOUND THAT SMOKERS ACTUALLY TURN AWAY FROM THESE KINDS OF MESSAGES RATHER THAN LISTEN TO THEM.(SOT - MOS)(SUPER = John Mandracchia, Smoker)"It's a visceral response that you're going to have to a big giant scar on somebody's back."(SOT - MOS) (SUPER = Dave Thomas, Smoker)"Obviously the dangers are there, but really and truly if it's something you enjoy doing, you're still going to go out there and do it."THE CDC EFFORT INCLUDES INFORMATION ON A NATIONAL QUIT LINE AND OFFERS ADVICE ON HOW TO KICK THE HABIT.Ross Simpson, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. (****END****) ANCHOR VOICE: Ross Simpson-------------------------VIDEO PRODUCER: Cindy Sharp---------------------------VIDEO SOURCE: AP, AP File, CDC Handout, Pool-----------------------VIDEO APPROVAL: Donna Starddard----------------------------VIDEO RESTRICTIONS: None----------------------------------MARKET EMBARGO (S): None--------------------------------SCRIPT/WIRE SOURCE:e1796BC-US-MED--Anti-Smoking Ads, 3rd Ld-Writethru