CDC Anti-Smoking Campaign Features Amputations, Tracheotomies, False Teeth

Courtesy of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
A CDC anti-smoking poster for their new campaign featuring an amputee.

By Daniel Distant , Christian Post Reporter

March 15, 2012|4:09 pm

A new anti-smoking campaign has emerged featuring graphic representations of the potential dangers of cigarettes.

The shocking new anti-smoking campaign was created by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, who cited that numbers smoking decreases have fallen significantly in recent years. Their aim is to for 50,000 Americans to stop smoking- a goal they feel is very worthwhile.

"This is incredibly important," CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden told TIME magazine. "It's not every day we release something that will save thousands of lives."

The cost of saving thousands of lives? $54 million over the span of 12 weeks, according to reports.

The pictures used to save those lives- dubbed "Tips From Former Smokers- will be incredibly jarring to smokers and non-smokers alike. One photo shows Shawn Wright, 50 of Washington, attempting to shave with a tracheotomy, making careful to avoid to hole in his throat.

Another striking message is delivered by Terrie, 51, of North Carolina, who is forced to wear a wig, scarf and false teeth after surviving cancer and a tracheotomy.

"Smoking causes immediate damage to the body. You can quit," reads the caption.

The representations of the very worst side of inhaling carcinogenic chemicals will be the thing that persuades smokers to quit, says Freiden. According to his research, the pictures are extremely effective in scaring smokers straight.

"This is absolutely what works," the director told Reuters. "The science is very clear."

Despite the CDC's seemingly large contribution to the anti-smoking campaign, it is miniscule when compared to the tobacco industry's advertising campaign- all companies combined spend over $10 a year, according to reports.

"This is really a David vs. Goliath fight. The tobacco industry has spent more than $100 billion on marketing and promotion. They continue to spend more than $10 billion a year. That's a million dollars every hour," said Freiden.