CDC Mourns Loss of ‘Tips From Former Smokers’ Campaign Spokesperson Michael Fletcher
ATLANTA – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is mourning the loss of Michael Fletcher, a compelling voice in the agency’s Tips From Former Smokers campaign. Fletcher, a husband, father, and grandfather, passed away recently, leaving behind a legacy of advocacy for tobacco prevention.
Fletcher bravely shared his story as part of the CDC’s national anti-smoking campaign, beginning in 2019, to illustrate the devastating health consequences of cigarette smoking. His participation aimed to prevent others from experiencing similar struggles and to encourage current smokers to quit. The CDC’s Tips campaign, launched in 2012, has been credited with motivating hundreds of thousands of Americans to attempt to quit smoking, and Fletcher’s contribution played a vital role in amplifying that impact.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of michael ‘Mike’ Fletcher,” said Laura Chanchien Parajón,MD,MPH,Director (Acting) of CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. “We will always remember Mike for his courageous commitment to warn others about the devastating effects of cigarette smoking. His story undoubtedly saved lives and inspired many smokers to quit.”
Fletcher’s personal testimony, shared through videos available on the CDC website, detailed the hardships he faced due to smoking-related illness. His story serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of tobacco use, wich remains the leading preventable cause of disease and death in the United States.
Individuals seeking resources to quit smoking can find support and data through the CDC’s Tips campaign website and the National Cancer Institute’s Smokefree.gov platform.
Michael’s Tips Videos: https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/stories/michael-f.html
