US launches new anti-smoking offensive
Worldwide, Daily news | ankakh | March 29, 2013 16:48US health officials launched a hard-hitting offensive aimed at slashing the numbers of smokers across the country following the success of a similar campaign last year.
The new campaign encourages smokers to kick the habit with a series of adverts spotlighting the wrenching personal stories of individuals battling smoking-related illnesses or diseases.
“This campaign is saving lives and saving dollars by giving people the facts about smoking in an easy-to-understand way that encourages quitting,” US Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said on Thursday.
A campaign run on similar lines last year proved effective, with the number of calls to helplines dedicated to people trying to quit smoking soaring following the adverts.
The number of calls to health services doubled to around 200,000 during the 2013 campaign, which cost $54 million and lasted 12 weeks.
Page views of a quit smoking website tied into the campaign increased five-fold compared to the same period in 2011.
Health officials say the campaign may have encouraged tens of thousands of people to quit smoking.
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