Highlighting just how hard of a habit smoking is to quit, New York state is running a new ad campaign that features a lifelong smoker. Skip Legault, 48, shares his smoking-related health problems -- including two heart attacks before age 30 -- in ads that will reach viewers through TV, Internet, and newspapers.

The fact that Mr. Legault is still smoking has brought the ads some criticism, but state health officials say that his smoking status shouldn't matter. The whole point is to show people the damage that smoking can do, and how hard it is to stop once you've started.

You can view the ad here. What do you think about it?