The Addiction According To The Center Of Disease Cont 357579

The Addictionaccording To The Center Of Disease Control And Preventio

The Addictionaccording To The Center Of Disease Control And Preventio

The Addiction According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, 40 million people light up a cigarette to calm their daily craving; that’s 40 million people knowingly deteriorating their body with each drag. As the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States, smoking is no phantom to millions. The “cigarette epidemic†has become so alarming that fighting the fixation to ultimately save people’s lives has become necessary. Many advertisements are created to encourage smokers to quit the habit, but very few are effective in doing so. The CDC created an advertisement that features a former avid smoker, and the battles she is forced to fight every day because of her notorious addiction, in attempt to convince millions to stop buying into the deadly custom.

Although it is extremely difficult to quit smoking, I claim that Terrie’s commercial convinces people to give up smoking through its use of ethos, logos, and pathos. In CDC’s commercial featuring Terrie, ethos is used to convince the audience by having a long-time, credible smoker be the spokesperson. In the commercial, Terrie shows her daily morning routine, containing things that smoking has forced her to have to do. Terrie has to put a wig on, teeth in, and put in a hands-free device that covers a hole in her throat she got from smoking to be able to talk. Since she has smoked for multiple years, she now has to go through unnecessary and inconvenient steps to make her life feel like normal after the harm she has done to her body.

Current smokers might see Terrie’s situation and be fearful that these consequences will inflict their lives, which could convince them to stop smoking. If the spokesperson were someone who did not actually smoke, the commercial would be much less convincing and effective because viewers would not be able to see a first-hand experience. The credibility that is built off of having a long-time smoker as the author constructs a more powerful commercial, as well as shows ethos. In comparison to CDC’s commercial, the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, released a commercial of a girl buying cigarettes. In the commercial, the girl is young, beautiful, in shape, and has a flawless complexion.

It is very evident to the audience that the girl has probably never smoked anything in her entire life. Although the point of the commercial is extremely important to many, it lacks an influential component because of the speaker. Since she is seemingly perfect on the outside, it is hard for current smokers to connect to her situation and be convinced to stop smoking, thus the purpose of the commercial ultimately failing. From its lack of effectiveness, this shows that ethos and the credibility of the speaker is vital when trying to persuade an audience because if the viewers cannot relate, they will not react. Near the end of the commercial, logos is used in a simple yet effective factual statement.

After viewing the routine of what could be the current viewers normality in a couple years if they submit themselves to smoking, they are faced with the harsh truth. In the commercial, one of the last things the viewer sees is the statement, “smoking causes immediate damage to your body.†Although allegedly mild, the straightforward saying forces the audience to reflect on the harmful decision they are making every time they light up. Having the raucous, factual reality that damage is immediately inflicted upon the body every time a cigarette is inhaled become apparent is an influential dynamic in the commercial, which is an effective tool in convincing the audience to quit the habit.

The factual statement is a powerful use of logos that aids in persuading people to abandon cigarettes. In the advertisement, Terrie shares her shocking and despairing everyday routine that creates an emotional response within the viewer, showing pathos. Terrie shares her compelling daily regimen that includes steps many people could not dream of doing. Just to feel normal, Terrie must put in teeth, a wig, and a hands-free device to speak, all of which are now necessary because her smoking habit caused severe deterioration in her body. Watching a woman go through these unthinkable steps makes the viewer feel extremely somber and sorry for what she has to go through, eliciting an emotional response.

The audience is faced with an emotional reaction that sends a jarring reality pulsing through each of their veins: this could be their future one-day. Simple things every person takes for granted such as having teeth, hair and being able to speak without an aid, is something the audience becomes abruptly aware of, and suddenly forms a fear of losing. Pathos is effectively formed from the infliction of heartbreaking emotions within the viewers after seeing Terrie’s unnerving daily routine that could ultimately encourage and convince them to stop smoking. Terrie’s advertisement effectively convinces viewers to consider the health and safety of their body and stop smoking. Being a long-time smoker, as well as having a compelling, traumatic story, Terrie’s experience inspires many to kick the habit that once seemed impossible to stop.

According to the American Cancer Society, across America, the average success rate of quitting smoking without aid is only about 4% to 7% (ACS). Terrie’s story could raise that rate because of her impactful story. When people see the struggles of a woman that has participated in their same vice, they realize that her current lifestyle could potentially develop into their future, a shocking realization that only becomes apparent when they are faced head on with the problem. Terrie’s commercial shines a much-needed light on the epidemic of smoking, thus spreading the information that the habit is extremely dangerous and harmful to the body. The American society has been bombarded with other advertisements by cigarette and tobacco companies that attempt to convince consumers to buy their product, while neglecting the harm that their products actually do to the human body.

Commercials like Terrie’s are vital to the health of millions. Instead of being influenced by uncaring companies, viewers can finally understand and visualize their future from Terrie’s struggle if they continue with the deadly custom. Smoking is an addictive epidemic that needs an army to destroy, but if one person is able to quit, that’s one person’s health and life that has improved, one person’s story that can become a motivation towards others to stop, thus moving towards a world without cigarettes. Addiction is a serious issue in America that doesn’t seem to draw much attention, but will affect us for generations.

Paper For Above instruction

The addictive nature of cigarette smoking presents a significant public health challenge in the United States. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 40 million Americans smoke cigarettes daily, despite widespread awareness of its health risks. The persistent prevalence of smoking-related illnesses and deaths underscores the urgency of effective anti-smoking campaigns that can resonate with various demographics. The CDC has employed multimedia advertisements featuring personal stories, such as that of Terrie, a long-time smoker suffering severe health consequences, to persuade current smokers to quit. This paper examines how these advertisements leverage ethos, logos, and pathos to persuade individuals to abandon smoking, and why these rhetorical strategies are vital for the success of public health messaging.

Central to the effectiveness of Terrie’s commercial is the use of ethos. Ethos appeals to credibility, and in this case, the spokesperson is a credible authority due to her real-life experience as a long-term smoker. Terrie’s personal narrative of deterioration, including the necessity of using teeth, wigs, and a throat device to speak, vividly demonstrates the physical toll of smoking. By sharing her authentic suffering, Terrie establishes trust with viewers, making her message more compelling. Viewers who see a relatable individual with tangible health consequences are likely to internalize the warning, realizing the real and personal risks of continued smoking. If a celebrity or a person lacking firsthand experience was used, the message’s credibility would diminish, reducing its persuasive power.

Additionally, the commercial employs logos by presenting factual and straightforward information about smoking’s immediate impact on health. The statement, “smoking causes immediate damage to your body,” serves as a stark reminder of the factual evidence supporting the dangers of tobacco use. This appeal to logic encourages viewers to reflect on their current habits and consider the long-term implications. The use of clear, impactful facts supplements the emotional appeal and reinforces the urgent need for behavioral change.

Pathos, or emotional appeal, is perhaps the most powerful component of the commercial. Terrie’s recounting of her daily struggles elicits feelings of sympathy and fear in viewers, sparking an emotional connection to her suffering. Seeing the extensive steps she must undertake to function normally—wearing a wig, inserting teeth, and using a throat device—dramatizes the devastating physical effects of smoking. This visceral depiction fosters empathy and prompts viewers to visualize their own potential future deterioration, evoking a sense of vulnerability and motivating change.

The combination of ethos, logos, and pathos in Terrie’s commercial creates a persuasive narrative that resonates on multiple levels. It personalizes the health risks, provides factual evidence, and evokes emotional distress—all of which motivate smokers to reconsider their habits. Despite the relatively low success rate of quitting smoking unaided, estimated at approximately 4% to 7%, stories like Terrie’s can significantly improve motivation and decision-making (American Cancer Society, 2014). Such emotionally charged testimonials help bridge the gap between awareness and action, encouraging smokers to seek assistance or adopt healthier behaviors.

Furthermore, public health campaigns must consider the importance of relatable and authentic messaging. Commercials featuring individuals with firsthand experience and visible consequences tend to be more impactful than those portraying idealized or disconnected images, such as the “perfect” young girl who has never smoked. The latter can create a disconnect, leaving viewers feeling unable to relate or see themselves in the message. In contrast, authentic stories like Terrie’s foster a sense of identification, making the health risks tangible and immediate.

In conclusion, anti-smoking advertisements that effectively utilize ethos, logos, and pathos are instrumental in combating the cigarette epidemic. Terrie’s narrative exemplifies how personal suffering and factual evidence can persuade smokers to reconsider their habits. As cigarette addiction remains a critical public health issue, investing in emotionally compelling, credible messages is essential for encouraging behavioral change and reducing smoking-related morbidity and mortality. Public health initiatives that incorporate authentic stories and factual information are more likely to inspire smokers to quit and ultimately save lives. The fight against tobacco addiction requires a multifaceted approach, where persuasive communication plays a vital role in shaping healthier behaviors across society.

References

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