Federal agencies deemed a major federally funded anti-smoking campaign a success after it prompted almost 2 million smokers to try to kick the habit.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Thursday that its nine-week Tips from Former Smokers campaign that ran in 2014 caused 1.8 million people to try and quit smoking. But the number of people who actually quit smoking is much lower, only an estimated 104,000.
Nevertheless, the CDC was proud of the numbers, saying that the campaign was a success and built on the success of the initial campaign in 2012.
“CDC’s Tips campaign has helped at least 400,000 smokers quit smoking for good since 2012,” said CDC Director Tom Frieden. “Tips is also extremely cost-effective and a best buy, saving both lives and money. With a year-round campaign we could save even more lives and money.”
The campaign was the first one to be spent with federal funding. It featured former smokers discussing the impact of smoking-related diseases. In one such video, a former smoker recounts how she was diagnosed with a lung disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, due to smoking.
The CDC noted that the campaign should run year-round, citing a recent Surgeon General’s report that found airing such messages can help with the problem.
