Some Harsh Statistics On Smoking

• In 2001, COPD was the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, resulting in more than 118,000 deaths.

• The average number of lung cancer deaths from 1995 to 1999 attributable to tobacco use was 124,0000. A total of 440,000 people died by smoking or other form of tobacco use- about 20% of all deaths in the U.S.

• Second hand smoke causes 3,000 cancer deaths and 300,000 sufferers from respiratory tract infections each year.

• Medical cost from tobacco use exceeds $75,000,000,000 per year.

• Productivity loss is greater than $80,000,000,000 per year.

• Smoking during pregnancy results in lower birth weight, which is associated with sudden infant death syndrome.

Sources:

• CDC Annual Smoking- Attributable Mortality, Years of Potential Life Lost, and the Economic Cost- United States- 1995-1999. MMWR 2002; 51(14): 300-3.

• The Health Consequences of Smoking: A Report of the Surgeon General- 2004- United States Public Health Service.