‘No Smoking’ Ad Go Too Far?

If you are a smoker, or even an ex-smoker, you might want to have your voice heard about some new commercials that will soon be hitting the airwaves. Trying get people to stop smoking is what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does. Sometimes it takes scare tactics to wake someone up to the dangers of smoking. The CDC has a new ad out that some people think may be going too far!

There is a new $54 million national media campaign that has hit the airwaves in an effort to prompt smokers to quit and, what some are saying, scare people away from cigarettes.

The ad is called, “Tips From Former Smokers,”  and the spots can be very disturbing. They feature  ex-smokers who’ve suffered severe consequences from tobacco use, from strokes, paralysis, amputation, and surgery.

The results of second-hand smoke are an issue too. All of these ads are going to show up on radio, TV, Facebook and even Twitter.

CDC Director Thomas R. Frieden feels while the ads may be graphic, they’re important to see, saying, “There is sound evidence that supports the use of these types of hard-hitting images and messages to encourage smokers to quit, to keep children from ever beginning to smoke, and to drastically reduce the harm caused by tobacco.

The CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health says smoking is the country’s leading cause of disease and preventable death.  Eight million Americans live with a smoking-related illness or condition.

Regardless of the risks, however, do you think it’s right for the CDC to be publishing images such as these? Vote in our poll below.

[WARNING: Images are GRAPHIC and may not be suitable for everyone]