Liz Burke, WPRO News
The Rhode Island Department of Health is launching a new program to encourage smokers to quit. The “Tobacco Made Me” campaign showcases personal stories from Rhode Islanders who are former smokers.
“We have heard of some many personal stories of people whose lives have been impacted by smoking use and they’re really motivating, heartfelt stories that we think will really touch the lives of current smokers and motivate them to want to try and quit this year,” said Erin Boles-Welsh, the Program Manager for the Tobacco Control Program.
According to the department of health, the campaign is modeled after the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s national “Tips from Former Smokers Campaign,” which used ex-smokers personal stories to increase quit line calls in other states by up to four times the normal volume.
“We know that 41% of smokers try to quit each year nationally. And that the more attempts the smoker makes the more likely they are to find success,” said Boles-Welsh.
Boles-Welsh says that HEALTH has launched a new facebook page that will have video interviews with Rhode Islanders sharing their personal stories. It is also a community space for others to post their own stories.
“We hope that as the next few days and months progress that people will visit our facebook page and share their personal stories about how smoking has affected them in the hopes that this will encourage other smokers to try and quit,” said Boles-Welsh.
The “Tobacco Made Me” campaign will run through February 2013.
