The American Lung Association of D.C. is targeting a new antismoking campaign at African Americans and Latino populations, using two very different approaches to achieve their goal, the Washington Post reported Sept. 30.

The campaigns, funded by part of the $10 million allocated by the District for antismoking efforts from 2007, involve television and radio spots, as well as bus shelter and Metro posters.

"These are the populations that have the highest rates of smoking, and of tobacco-related health disparities -- heart disease, stroke, cancer -- particularly in the Medicaid and under-served population," said project director Debra Annand.

The English-language campaign geared toward African Americans features Washington Redskins player Darrell Green in a sleek black suit, warning viewers about the "250 deadly poisons" in cigarettes. The message for black audiences: get smart rather than getting scared. Other advertisements feature other popular celebrities with similar warnings.

The Spanish-language campaign, designed by Elevacion, employs a different approach. The ad shows a lonely immigrant accepting a gun from a lanky cowboy. As the immigrant places the gun to his temple, the weapon transforms into a cigarette while the cowboy turns into cigarette smoke.

"The data showed us that these immigrants get here and they are alone; that is the excuse for why they're smoking,'" said Jim Leonard, Elevacion's president. "We wanted to demonize those excuses -- and we're going to make this [Marlboro] man the demon."