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A new program, aimed at encouraging Cigarette smokers to Quit Smoking, was announced today by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Targeting smokers who have already tried to quit before, the campaign focuses on encouraging another attempt.
The “Every Try Counts“ campaign focuses on encouraging yet another attempt to quit. Those who have made the attempt multiple times are more likely to be able to quit once and for all.
Tobacco companies have long used advertisements at convenience stores and gas stations to promote their products, and we plan to use that same space to embolden smokers to quit instead. -FDA Commissioner @SGottliebFDA
— U.S. FDA (@US_FDA) December 11, 2017
Reconsider that next pack
Focusing on the point of sale, gas stations, and convenience stores, the “Every Try Counts“ campaign will encourage smokers to reconsider purchasing their next pack.
A popular location for tobacco company advertisements, the motivational messages at the same point-of-sale locations are aimed at disrupting unplanned cigarette purchases and offsetting the effectiveness of the tobacco advertisements.
Partnering with the National Institute of Health's National Cancer Institute, the FDA created the EveryTryCounts.gov website. The website is designed to provide smokers with additional resources and tools which may help them quit. A free motivational text messaging program, sending encouraging texts to those attempting to quit is available on the site. Users can also download a mobile app to track smoking triggers and contact coaches available online or by phone for more help and encouragement.
Information about smoking risks and available FDA approved Smoking Cessation products will also be available.
The campaign, which is funded entirely by user fees collected from the tobacco industry, has no funding coming from taxpayer dollars. As part of its efforts to reduce the public health burden caused by tobacco, the “Every Try Counts“ campaign works to complement the FDA’s prevention campaigns aimed at youth and young adults.
Each year approximately 480,000 deaths in the US are attributed to cigarette smoking. In 2015 more than 15 percent of adults in the United States were cigarette smokers. Of those smokers, 2/3 of them have stated a real desire to quit. Unfortunately, in 2015 only seven percent were successful of the 55 percent who made an actual attempt.
Multiple attempts will bring success
The “Every Try Counts“ campaign focuses on encouraging that next attempt. Those who have made the attempt multiple times are more likely to be able to quit for good. In addition to the point-of-sale locations, the ad campaign will also feature print, digital, radio, and other advertisements, such as billboards.
Targeting smokers between the ages of 25 and 54, who have attempted to quit smoking in the last year but were unsuccessful, the “Every Try Counts“ campaign will launch in 35 US markets in January 2018.
