The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has hit upon a good formula to get the attention of smokers. In the two weeks since it began its "Tips from Former Smokers campaign, calls to the 1-800-QUIT-NOW quitline have more than doubled," the agency said in a press release today.

On its campaign website, smokers meet folks like 31-year-old  Brandon who started smoking in his mid-teens, "and by 18, he was diagnosed with Buerger’s disease, a disorder linked to tobacco use that causes blood vessels in the hands and feet to become blocked and can result in infection or gangrene. Nine years later, after losing both his legs and several fingertips to this terrible disease, he quit smoking for good. Smoke-free for 4 years now, Brandon hasn’t had any more amputations, but he still must manage the consequences of being a double amputee."

Hope the campaign continues its success. "Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the United States, killing more than 443,000 Americans each year," the CDC reports.

But quitting is really hard, especially for young people who feel invincible.

---

---