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Tammy W. ate healthy and ran marathons. She also smoked for 23 years. At age 44, Tammy learned she had severe heart disease. In this video, Tammy talks about needing to have open-heart surgery. She shares how it felt to see her mother worried at the hospital. This video can also be viewed at https://www.cdc.gov/wcms/video/low-res/tobacco/2024/45364536tips-2024-tammy-w-reality-of-smoking-vignette-URL-high-res.mp4 […]

Ethan B. grew up seeing ads that convinced him smoking was “cool.” In this ad, Ethan says there’s nothing cool about having a smoking-related stroke. Comments on this video are allowed in accordance with our comment policy: http://www.cdc.gov/SocialMedia/Tools/CommentPolicy.html This video can also be viewed at https://www.cdc.gov/wcms/video/low-res/tobacco/2023/390390tips-2024-ethan-b-cool-30-URL-high-res.mp4 source

Angie P. hid behind menthol cigarettes while she struggled with her identity. She feared her family and community would not accept her for being gay. In this vignette, Angie talks about that fear and other feelings she tried to mask with cigarettes. She says quitting smoking helped her rediscover and love herself. Comments on this […]

Ethan started smoking menthol cigarettes because he wanted to be “cool.” He wanted to be like the people he saw in movies and commercials. In this video, he describes how smoking affected his health and shares that he had two smoking-related strokes. Comments on this video are allowed in accordance with our comment policy: http://www.cdc.gov/SocialMedia/Tools/CommentPolicy.html […]

Ethan B. remembers seeing ads that made smoking menthol cigarettes seem “soothing” and “fresh”. After having two smoking-related strokes, Ethan knows there’s nothing soothing about smoking menthol cigarettes. This video can also be viewed at https://www.cdc.gov/wcms/video/low-res/tobacco/2024/14701470tips-2024-ethan-b-not-so-soothing-30-URL-high-res-v2.mp4 source

Some of the people featured in the _Tips_ _From_ _Former_ _Smokers_ ® ( _Tips_ ® ) campaign used to think cigarettes were their “best friend.” In this ad, they talk about needing a better friend . This video can also be viewed at https://www.cdc.gov/wcms/video/low-res/tobacco/2024/55tips-2024-PSA-montage-best-friend-URL-high-res.mp4 source

Angie P. started smoking menthol cigarettes at age 15. Over time, she became aware of the tobacco industry’s aggressive advertising of cigarettes, including menthol cigarettes. Angie feels that tobacco companies took advantage of her as someone who is gay and African American. In this _Tips_ _From_ _Former_ _Smokers_ ® ( _Tips_ ® ) ad, she […]

Felicita R. started smoking at age 12 and smoked for more than 30 years. When she was young, she thought smoking made her look cool. She was diagnosed with severe gum disease at age 50 and had to have all of her teeth removed. In this Spanish language video, Felicita talks about her mission to […]

Felicita R. has severe gum disease caused by smoking, and she had to have all of her teeth removed. In this ad, in Felicita’s native Spanish language, she urges people who smoke to quit now. This video can also be viewed at https://www.cdc.gov/wcms/video/low-res/tobacco/2025/32923292tips-2025-felicita-r-dejelo-tip-URL-15-high-res.mp4 source

Tammy W. smoked menthol cigarettes. She grew up with a large extended family, many of whom smoked. She also remembers seeing ads on billboards and in magazines that promoted cigarettes. At age 44, Tammy learned she had severe heart disease and needed open-heart surgery. In this video, she encourages people who smoke to quit today. […]

Tammy W. hid her smoking from everyone. In this ad, Tammy’s tip is, when you are having open-heart surgery, you cannot hide the damage caused by smoking. Everyone can see it. This video can also be viewed at https://www.cdc.gov/wcms/video/low-res/tobacco/2025/655655tips-2025-tammy-w-everyone-can-see-it-tip-heart-URL-30-high-res.mp4 source

Tammy W. thought menthol cigarettes were “healthier.” In this ad, Tammy shares that menthol cigarettes are just as good at causing heart disease as any cigarette. This video can also be viewed at https://www.cdc.gov/wcms/video/low-res/tobacco/2025/10711071tips-2025-tammy-w-dirty-secret-tip-URL-15-high-res.mp4 source

Fred W. had throat cancer from smoking cigarettes. He had to give up activities he cherished, such as playing his favorite musical instrument, the saxophone. Fred also had to give up things like spending time at the beach. In this video, he talks about the things he misses because of smoking-related disease. This video can […]

Fred W. was diagnosed with throat cancer from smoking when his kids were very young. He now speaks with the help of a laryngeal implant. Fred still wanted to do all the same activities with his kids that his dad did with him, like fishing. But, he has not figured out how to have a […]

Fred W. was diagnosed with throat cancer from smoking. He had to give up activities he cherished, such as playing his favorite musical instrument, the saxophone. In this video, he talks about the things he had to give up because of smoking-related disease. This video can also be viewed at https://www.cdc.gov/wcms/video/low-res/tobacco/2025/17351735tips-2025-fred-w-facing-the-music-vignette-high-res.mp4 source

Fred W. was diagnosed with throat cancer from smoking. He had surgery to remove the cancer. He now has a stoma (a surgically created opening) in his throat that allows him to breathe and a laryngeal implant that allows him to speak. If you think cigarettes are expensive, here is Fred’s tip – after treatment […]

Felicita R. smoked for more than 30 years. She was diagnosed with severe gum disease and had to have all of her teeth removed. She was fitted for dentures and now typically eats only soft foods. Felicita’s tip is you might think quitting smoking feels like pulling teeth but it’s not even close. This video […]

Felicita R. started smoking at age 12 and smoked for more than 30 years. When she was young, she thought smoking made her look cool. She was diagnosed with severe gum disease at age 50 and had to have all of her teeth removed. In this video, Felicita talks about her mission to help friends […]

Elizabeth thought smoking menthol cigarettes made her look sophisticated. At age 52, she learned she had smoking-related peripheral artery disease (PAD) and had major surgery to restore blood flow to her legs. In this ad, Elizabeth shares her tip, which is that smoking could give you PAD – as she says, “That’s a sophisticated way […]

Elizabeth B. smoked and learned from her doctor that she had smoking-related peripheral artery disease (PAD). Elizabeth also developed kidney cancer. Elizabeth’s tip is, quit now. The sooner you quit, the better. This video can also be viewed at https://www.cdc.gov/wcms/video/low-res/tobacco/2025/36273627tips-2025-elizabeth-b-done-with-smoking-tip-URL-30-high-res.mp4 source