The successful combination of health warnings, educational programs in schools, policy and legislative efforts, and higher cost of tobacco products due to taxes contributed in the decline of smokers in the U.S. Data from the 2002 National Health Interview Survey estimates around 45.8 million or 22.5% of Americans smoke with 37.5 million smoking daily and 8.3 million smoking somedays.3 Approximately 80% of the people who use tobacco will start using before the age of 18.4
Smoking is the leading cause of death in the US; over 440,000 people die of a cigarette smoking related illness.
Smoking is the leading cause of PREVENTABLE death in the US.
A smoker loses an estimated 14 years of life expectancy.
An estimated 38,000 Americans die from secondhand smoke related cancers and heart disease each year.
Although the incidence of breast cancer is higher than lung cancer in women, the survival rate of lung cancer is much lower (13%) than breast cancer (78%).7
An estimated 27,700 new cases of oral cancer were diagnosed in 2003 with 7,200 deaths.8 Approximately 70% of oral cancers are associated with smoking.9
The successful combination of health warnings, educational programs in schools, policy and legislative efforts, and higher cost of tobacco products due to taxes contributed in the decline of smokers in the U.S. Data from the 2002 National Health Interview Survey estimates around 45.8 million or 22.5% of Americans smoke with 37.5 million smoking daily and 8.3 million smoking somedays.3 Approximately 80% of the people who use tobacco will start using before the age of 18.4
