Real Stories by Specific Group
The individuals below are participating in the Tips From Former Smokers® Campaign. All of them have been affected by cigarette smoke. Some are former smokers and some have never smoked. Almost all of them are living with smoking-related diseases and disabilities. These diseases and disabilities changed the quality of their lives — some dramatically — including how they eat, dress and do daily tasks. Some had to give up activities they once loved to do. They speak from experience and agreed to share their stories with you, to send a single, powerful message: Quit smoking now. Or better yet — don’t ever start.
Also view stories by Name or by Disease/Condition.
![Annette](/congress115th/20190110021949im_/https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/images/headshots/annette-40x60.jpg)
![Jamason](/congress115th/20190110021949im_/https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/images/headshots/jamason-40x60.jpg)
![James](/congress115th/20190110021949im_/https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/images/headshots/james-40x60.jpg)
![Julia](/congress115th/20190110021949im_/https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/images/headshots/julia-40x60.jpg)
![Marie](/congress115th/20190110021949im_/https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/images/headshots/marie-40x60.jpg)
![Roosevelt](/congress115th/20190110021949im_/https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/images/headshots/roosevelt-40x60.jpg)
![Tiffany](/congress115th/20190110021949im_/https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/images/headshots/tiffany-40x60.jpg)
Meet Tiffany. Tiffany, age 40, lives in Louisiana. She started smoking at 19, even though her mother, a smoker, died of lung cancer. Tiffany quit smoking — wanting to be around for her own teenage daughter.
Quitting information for African Americans
![Michael](/congress115th/20190110021949im_/https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/images/headshots/michael-40x60.jpg)
![Nathan](/congress115th/20190110021949im_/https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/images/headshots/nathan-40x60.jpg)
Quitting information for American Indians/Alaska Natives
Meet Rico. Rico, age 48, lives in California. He was diagnosed with cancer at age 45. Rico was determined to quit smoking and be smokefree for life. Now that he’s quit and a cancer survivor, he feels blessed to spend time with his family.
Quitting information for Asian Americans
![Beatrice](/congress115th/20190110021949im_/https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/images/headshots/beatrice-40x60.jpg)
![Felicita](/congress115th/20190110021949im_/https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/images/headshots/felicita-40x60.jpg)
![Jessica](/congress115th/20190110021949im_/https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/images/headshots/jessica-40x60.jpg)
![Mariano](/congress115th/20190110021949im_/https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/images/headshots/mariano-40x60.jpg)
Meet Rose. Rose lived in Texas and began smoking at age 13. She developed lung cancer that later spread to her brain. After many, many treatments, Rose died in January 2015. She was 60.
Quitting information for Hispanics/Latinos
Meet Brian. Brian, age 45, lives in California and has HIV. At 14, he started smoking. At 43, smoking, combined with HIV, caused him to have a stroke. He quit that day and hopes to regain full use of his right hand.
Quitting information for those who are HIV positive
Meet Brian. Brian, age 45, lives in California and has HIV. At 14, he started smoking. At 43, smoking, combined with HIV, caused him to have a stroke. He quit that day and hopes to regain full use of his right hand.
Meet Ellie. Ellie, age 57, lives in Florida and never smoked. At 35, she started having asthma attacks triggered from breathing secondhand smoke at work. The severe attacks forced her to leave a job she loved.
Meet Rose. Rose lived in Texas and began smoking at age 13. She developed lung cancer that later spread to her brain. After many, many treatments, Rose died in January 2015. She was 60.
![Brian](/congress115th/20190110021949im_/https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/images/headshots/brian-2-40x60.jpg)
![James](/congress115th/20190110021949im_/https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/images/headshots/james-40x60.jpg)
![Mark](/congress115th/20190110021949im_/https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/images/headshots/mark-40x60.jpg)
![Michael](/congress115th/20190110021949im_/https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/images/headshots/michael-40x60.jpg)
![Nathan](/congress115th/20190110021949im_/https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/images/headshots/nathan-40x60.jpg)
Quitting information for Military
![Amanda](/congress115th/20190110021949im_/https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/images/headshots/amanda-40x60.jpg)