Health Department Releases New Anti-Smoking Ads, "Cancer Doesn't Care" To Focus On Light Smokers and Those Who Have Cut Back But Have Not Yet Quit
This month, the Health Department debuts a new television, bus and radio ad campaign called "Cancer Doesn't Care." The ads are running through June 29 and focus on those who may have cut back but continue to smoke, and encourages them to quit. In the last 12 years, New York City has seen progress in reducing smoking prevalence, but the decline has stalled since 2010. Almost 1 million adult New Yorkers are still smokers. However, those who still smoke are more likely to be light and non-daily smokers. Light and non-daily smokers make up over three-quarters of New York City's current adult smokers.
Even though many people have cut back on their smoking, they are still at risk for smoking-related illness. The ads feature the ways in which light smokers and non-daily smokers talk about the levels of smoking as making them exempt from the health impact, warning that, "Cancer doesn't care you don't smoke that much; cancer doesn't care you cut back…"
"I encourage all NYC smokers to use this campaign as the opportunity to quit," said Health Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett. "Even if you have cut back your smoking, you are still at risk for the devastating health consequences of smoking. Even if you smoke occasionally, you are a smoker. We want to help you quit for good."
Research has shown that many non-daily smokers don't identify as smokers and do not believe they are at risk for smoking-related disease. There is no safe level of smoking, and any level of daily smoking has been shown to increase the risk of health consequences like cancer. Even young people are at risk; every year nearly 15,000 people under the age of 55 die from smoking-related cancer. Smoking-related illness impacts more than just the smoker. It impacts family members and friends who must care for the smoker during their illness, and who are left without spouses, parents and children. As the ad closes, it warns, "The day you hear, 'it's cancer,' you'll care and your family will care." While the focus of this campaign is on light daily and non-daily smokers, help is available for all New York City smokers.
Quitting smoking is the most important thing one can do to improve their health. Within days of quitting smoking, health begins to improve and the body begins to heal. Help, including free medication, is available to all smokers who want to quit.
To view the ads visit: NYCHealth YouTube page
Smokers can visit nysmokefree.com or call 311 or 866-NYQUITS for help.