Facts About Smoking - Public Health Department (DEP)

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Facts About Smoking

The Numbers:

420,000 people die each year in the U.S. from a tobacco related disease (that’s more than cocaine, homicide, suicide, car crashes, fires, heroin and AIDS combined).
3,000 United States teens start smoking each day.
90% of today’s smokers started smoking before they were 18 years old.
Of every 100 people who attempt to quit smoking, only 25 are still non-smokers after one year.

The Truth About Smokeless Tobacco:

Approximately 1/3 of high school seniors (and more than half of male seniors) have tried smokeless tobacco.
60% of high school users do not believe that smokeless tobacco is harmful to their health.

The Truth About Tobacco Advertising:

86% of all teen smokers use one of the three most heavily advertised brands (Camels, Marlboro, and Newport).
30% of 3 year olds can identify Joe Camel.
91% of 6 year olds can identify Joe Camel.
Philip Morris paid $350,000 for James Bond to smoke Marlboro brand cigarettes in the last Bond film.
There are statistically more tobacco advertisements in stores within 1,000 feet of schools.

The Effects:

diminished sense of smell and taste
increased heart rate and blood pressure
chronic bronchitis
premature aging
heart disease
yellow teeth and finger nails
enlarged taste buds (looks like hairy tongue)
frequent colds
gastric ulcers
smoker’s cough
emphysema
stroke
tooth decay and gum disease
impotence

cancer of the mouth, larynx, pharynx, esophagus, lungs, pancreas, cervix, uterus, and bladder

The Ingredients:

When you smoke cigarettes, you’re also getting things you may not know about. Here is a list of just a few of the 4000+ chemicals found in cigarettes.

Cancer Causing Agents: