Monday, March 19, 2012 | 7:04 p.m.
CARSON CITY — A television ad campaign aimed at curbing the use of tobacco starts airing in Nevada today, coinciding with a national push by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
More than 3,300 people die in Nevada each year from smoking-related illnesses, health officials say. The State Health Division estimates 21.3 percent of adults in Nevada smoke.
State Health Officer Dr. Tracey Green said smoking results in health care costs of $565 million a year. “Another troubling statistic is that 17 percent of Nevada’s youth smoke,” she said.
Health officials issued statements Monday to coincide with the start of a national campaign by the CDC on the damage of smoking.
Karla Bee, tobacco program coordinator for the State Health Division, said the cigarette industry spends nearly $95 million a year promoting its product.
The national anti-smoking campaign is aimed at primarily young people, Bee said.
The anti-smoking advertisements will be aired in Nevada today through June 11.
TV ads will display people living with the consequences of smoking.
Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the CDC, said “there is sound evidence that supports the use of these types of hard-hitting images and messages to encourage smokers to quit, to keep children from ever beginning to smoke, and to drastically reduce the harm caused by tobacco.”
Many of the ads will be tagged with 1-800-QUIT-NOW, a toll-free number that directs callers to the Nevada Tobacco Users’ Helpline.
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