Cigarette Smoking

Introduction

The 1982 Surgeon General's Report stated that "Cigarette smoking is the major single cause of cancer mortality in the United States." This statement is as true today as it was in 1982.

Smoking is responsible for nearly 1 in 5 deaths in the United States. Because cigarette smoking and tobacco use are acquired behaviors -- activities that individuals choose to do -- smoking is the most preventable cause of premature death in our society.

The purpose of this document is to provide a brief overview of cigarette smoking: who smokes, how it affects health, what makes it so hard to quit, and what some of the many benefits of quitting are. For more information about quitting smoking, see the American Cancer Society document, "Guide to Quitting Smoking."

Who Smokes?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 44.5 million US adults were current smokers in 2004 (the most recent year for which numbers are available). This is 20.9% of all adults (23.4% of men, 18.5% of women) -- more than 1 out of 5 people.

When broken down by race/ethnicity, the numbers were as follows: Whites
African Americans
Hispanics
American Indians/Alaska Natives
Asian Americans 22.2%
20.2%
15.0%
33.4%
11.3%


The numbers were higher in younger age groups. Almost 24% of those 18 to 44 years old were current smokers, compared to less than 9% in those aged 65 or older.

Nationwide, 22.3% of high school students and 8.1% of middle school students were current smokers in 2004. White and Hispanic students were among the highest in terms of cigarette use. (For more information, see the American Cancer Society document, "Child and Teen Tobacco Use.")

Health Effects of Smoking

About half of all Americans who continue to smoke will die because of the habit.

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Annual Causes of Death in the United States
Tobacco 435,0001
Poor Diet and Physical Inactivity 365,0001
Alcohol 85,000 1
Microbial Agents 75,0001
Toxic Agents 55,0001
Motor Vehicle Crashes 26,3471
Adverse Reactions to Prescription Drugs 32,0002
Suicide 30,6223
Incidents Involving Firearms 29,0001
Homicide 20,3084
Sexual Behaviors 20,0001
All Illicit Drug Use, Direct and Indirect 17,0001, 5
Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs Such As Aspirin 7,6006
Marijuana

An exhaustive search of the literature finds no credible reports of deaths induced by marijuana. The US Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) records instances of drug mentions in medical examiners' reports, and though marijuana is mentioned, it is usually in combination with alcohol or other drugs. Marijuana alone has not been shown to cause an overdose death.

Source: Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN), available on the web at http://www.samhsa.gov/; also see Janet E. Joy, Stanley J. Watson, Jr., and John A. Benson, Jr., "Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing the Science Base," Division of Neuroscience and Behavioral Research, Institute of Medicine (Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1999), available on the web at http://www.nap.edu/html/marimed/; and US Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration, "In the Matter of Marijuana Rescheduling Petition" (Docket #86-22), September 6, 1988, p. 57.

According to what i posted there has been no recorded Death Related to Marijuana and yet, it's illegal. Whereas Cigarettes is legal in the U.S.A and has Contributed to Each year about 440,000 people die in the United States from illnesses related to cigarette smoking. Cigarettes kill more Americans than alcohol, car accidents, suicide, AIDS, homicide, and illegal drugs combined.

All i got to say is Something is seriously wrong in the decision of what should be legal and what shouldn't.

Not sure a single word of that is fact...

100% of Americans smoke


They inhale the pollution from these cars, manufacturing companies etc etc

Yes smoking cigarettes is unhealthy but i'm not convinced it causes cancer. Nor is some of these cancer doctors. Chemicals in the air and in our food is what causes cancer.


Smoking marijuana hasn't caused a death? BS

if you know anyone who smokes there is a new product to help. it is a man made chemical and we do not know all the facts on it, however it has helped many people quit. it is called chantrix. it blocks the receptors in the brain that receive the nicotine. therefore, eliminating the so called need to smoke. the biggest factor against smokers is the hand to mouth syndrome which is all up to the individual person. you must find an outlet for this. but without the nicotine asd a driving factor it is definitly a great way to help smokers. some can do it cold turkey but others need just a little help. if everyone was to stop smoking tomorrow we would not have this issue of global warming as pressing as it is today. did you know that over 80% of the population of china smokes? if they all quit tomorrow, how much polution would no longer be contributing to the problem? this just actually crossed my mind and i would like to know if anyone has a model that will tell us this answer? how much less polution would be emmitted into our atmosphere if everyone was to quit smoking. if you ask me cigarettes should be illegal before we even think about pot. the pot problem is minor compared to the tobacco problem!

bravo stevewm!! just step outside and breath. Might as well go suck on your exhaust pipe of your car. Better yet...i will pass!!!!!!

when my father was dying of cancer I had a long conversation with the doctor
treating him.....the doc told me in no uncertain terms that cancer is from
what we eat...and that the best environment for cancer is fat....I'm not suggesting
that smoking is ok...it does lead to lung problems...and is just another source
of poison...just like our american diet...

I don't think any one, select thing causes cancer- but pile all the chemicals the modern world involves us all in every day, and one constant thing can be a catalyst for change.

Smoking dose still bring about some scary health problems, pulmonary and vascular. Drugs also lead to many scary avenues, and between drugs, alcohol and cigarettes, I have 5 living blood relatives to my name. Five, out of an immediate family of more than 25. Most lost to drugs, drinking and stupidity