Latest smoking research has revealed that an estimated 6 million people across the world will die with causes relating to tobacco in the next year. This month, November, is observed as Lung Cancer Awareness Month. In recognition of this, and that fact that a staggering 43 million American smoke, the national quit program will be relaunching it’s new campaign. This campaign will aim to help smokers re-learn life without cigarettes.
The campaign is being called EX, which has the slogan ‘become an Ex’. The campaign is sponsored by the National Alliance of Tobacco Cessation (NATC) which included such groups as the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association and the National Cancer Institute.
Adverts will be airing this month on radio and TV, as well as cable and in print. It’s being labelled as more than just an ad campaign, it gives advice and hard facts to smokers. It also, importantly, includes information on how to successfully quit smoking and re-learn how to live as a non-smoker. The website covers how to find your triggers – what makes you want that cigarette at that time, and how to deal with it.
Here is one advert I came across on youtube, showing a man who smokes in his car trying to distract himself from his craving. I’m not entirely convinced that it’s an authentic EX advert, but you do get a gist of the idea of re-learning your life, and doing something else instead of smoking.
Many people smoke when they drive. Another similar advert shows a man leaves his store for a cigarette. While smoking, he tries the doors of a few cars, before jumping into an idling delivery van and driving off. The voice over says “You don’t drive every time you smoke, yet, you smoke every time you drive” and tells the viewer to “relearn life without cigarettes.”
Most smokers in America (70 percent, in fact) want to quit, but so few are successful in their attempts. The EX website is really quite incredible, and smokers can sign up and create a smoker profile, and use a quit-smoking plan, which you can find here.
I think this is a really good initiative, and all smokers should give it a go, because it really can’t hurt to at least try. Rather than just exhorting you to quit full stop, EX is giving smokers a way to change their lives around learn to not need a cigarette in certain situations.
