DALLAS, Aug. 13, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — “To reduce cigarette smoking in our communities, especially among our youth, we need to provide the resources to quit,” said Florencia Velasco Fortner, President and CEO of The Concilio. “Quitting is difficult but help is available. With the National Alliance for Hispanic Health we are partnering with CDC’s Tips campaign to offer free cessation support at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-855-DÉJELO-YA) to help smokers quit and prevent others from starting,” said Ms. Velasco Fortner.

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In Texas, 28,000 adults die every year from smoking-related diseases, and an estimated 1.5 million children in Texas will become smokers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Tips from Former Smokers (Tips) campaign ads feature real people like Beatrice, a Latina who tried her first cigarette at age 7. Beatrice, now age 40, quit smoking and talks about the motivation of being healthy for her son. She tells smokers that “I want to offer hope to people that it is possible to join the ranks of nonsmokers.”

The 2015 Spanish and English language Tips campaign is airing in Texas and across the country to raise awareness of the dangers of smoking and offer advice on how to quit. “These former smokers are helping save tens of thousands of lives by sharing their powerful stories of how smoking has affected them,” said CDC Director Tom Frieden, MD, MPH. According to the CDC, smoking is the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the U.S.

“With no statewide smoking restrictions covering Texas workplaces, restaurants, or bars, it’s critical that we do all we can to raise awareness of the health consequences of smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke. The Tips campaign is a critical tool to counter the $8.3 billion dollars tobacco companies will spend this year to make cigarettes more attractive and more affordable, particularly to young people,” concluded Ms. Velasco Fortner.

More information on quitting smoking is available from the National Alliance for Hispanic Health at hispanichealth.org/nuestras-voces or 1-866-783-2645. Information is also available from the CDC at cdc.gov/tips or cdc.gov/consejos or at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-855-DÉJELO-YA).

About The Concilio.
The Concilio is a grassroots organization that empowers parents and has served North Texas since 1981. The results-driven nonprofit offers turn-key programs that improve educational attainment and access to equitable healthcare. The Concilio helps families overcome obstacles and unfavorable conditions that interfere with their health and education, serving thousands of families each year. For more information, call (214) 818-0481 or visit www.theconcilio.org.

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