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There is behavioral treatment and FDA approved medication to help quit tobacco use.

For Behavioral treatment, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing is available.

For medications there is anti depressants, Bupropion, and  Varenicline.

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There are effective treatments that support tobacco cessation, including both behavioral therapies and FDA-approved medications. FDA-approved pharmacotherapies include various forms of nicotine replacement therapy as well as bupropion and varenicline. Research indicates that smokers who receive a combination of behavioral treatment and cessation medications quit at higher rates than those who receive minimal intervention.37,40,162-167 Interventions such as brief advice from a health care worker, telephone helplines, automated text messaging, and printed self-help materials can also facilitate smoking cessation. Cessation interventions utilizing mobile devices and social media also show promise in boosting tobacco cessation. It is important for cessation treatment to be as personalized as possible, as some people smoke to avoid negative effects of withdrawal while others are more driven by the rewarding aspects of smoking.

Surgeon General's Report on Smoking Cessation

The Surgeon General's Report on Smoking Cessation, released in January 2020, offers evidence that smoking cessation is beneficial at any age, improves health status and enhances quality of life. It also reduces the risk of premature death and can add as much as a decade to life expectancy.

The prevalence of tobacco use and dependence among adolescents-as well as the neurobiological impact and medical consequences of nicotine exposure-suggest that pediatric primary care settings should deliver tobacco cessation treatments to both youth and parents who use tobacco. Current clinical guidance does not recommend medications for adolescent tobacco cessation because of a lack of high-quality studies; however, a combination of behavioral treatments-such as motivational enhancement and CBT-has shown promise for helping adolescents quit tobacco. More well-designed smoking cessation studies need to be conducted with adolescent smokers, particularly in the area of pharmacologic treatments for nicotine dependence.

Behavioral Treatments

Behavioral counseling is typically provided by specialists in smoking cessation for four to eight sessions. Both in-person and telephone counseling have been found beneficial for patients who are also using cessation medications. A variety of approaches to smoking cessation counseling are available.

Motivational Interviewing (MI) -In MI, counselors help patients explore and resolve their ambivalence about quitting smoking and enhance their motivation to make healthy changes. MI is patient-focused and nonconfrontational, and providers point out discrepancies between patients' goals or values and their current behaviors. They adjust to patients' resistance to change and support self-efficacy and optimism. Studies of MI suggest that this intervention results in higher quit rates than brief advice to stop smoking or usual care.

Telephone support and quitlines-As part of tobacco control efforts, all states offer toll-free telephone numbers (or quitlines) with smoking cessation counselors who provide information and support (800-QUIT-NOW or 800-784-8669). Studies of quitline interventions indicate that smokers who call quitlines benefit from these services, particularly when a counselor calls them back for multiple sessions. There is limited evidence on the optimal number of calls needed, but smokers who participated in three or more calls had a greater likelihood of quitting, compared with those who only received educational materials, brief advice, or pharmacotherapy alone. Quitlines have also been shown to help smokeless tobacco cessation. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provides a Smoking Quitline (877-44U-QUIT or 877-448-7848), as well as more information and tools for quitting (including text messages and other telephone-based support) at https://smokefree.gov/.

Text messaging, web-based services, and social media support -Technology, including mobile phones, internet, and social media platforms can be used to provide smoking cessation interventions. These technologies have the power to increase access to care by extending the work of counselors and overcoming the geographical barriers that may deter people from entering treatment.

A review of the literature on technology-based smoking cessation interventions (internet, personal computer, and mobile telephone) found that these supports can increase the likelihood of adults quitting, compared with no intervention or self-help information, and they can be a cost-effective adjunct to other treatments. A technology does not necessarily have to be recent or highly sophisticated to help boost cessation rates. For example, studies suggest that adults who receive encouragement, advice, and quitting tips via text-message-a capability on even the most basic mobile devices-show improved quit rates compared with control programs.

Among adult tobacco users who called a state quitline, most selected an integrated phone/web cessation program in favor of a web-only intervention. Participants who chose the web-only option tended to be younger and healthier smokers, with a higher socioeconomic status. These participants tended to interact intensely with the site once, but did not re-engage as much as those who opted for the phone/web combination. A review of internet-based smoking cessation programs for adults suggested that interactive internet-based interventions that are tailored to individual needs can help people quit for 6 months or longer. Future research should determine the effectiveness of different technologies for smoking cessation support among populations that may be hard to reach, including those of low socioeconomic status and adults older than age 50.

Technology-based cessation interventions are particularly relevant to young adults aged 18 to 25-about 3.2 million of whom smoked daily in 2016. A systematic review and meta-analysis of published randomized trials of technology-based interventions-including computer programs, internet, telephone, and text messaging-for smoking cessation among this population found that they increased abstinence by 1.5 times that of comparison subjects. Researchers recommend embedding cessation interventions in commonly used social networking platforms, and there has been some exploratory work in this area. Results of a trial with a relatively small number of participants suggested that Facebook was an accessible, low-cost platform for engaging young adults considering cessation. However, the study pointed to challenges in maintaining participation, retaining young people in the program, and the need for gender-specific features. A randomized controlled trial has been designed to test a stage-based smoking cessation intervention on Facebook tailored for smokers aged 18 to 25. Participants will be recruited online, randomly assigned to a Facebook group according to their readiness to quit, and will receive tailored daily messages and weekly counseling. The study will assess the intervention's impact on abstinence from smoking 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment, number of cigarettes smoked, quit attempts lasting 24 hours or more, and commitment to abstinence.

Smoking Cessation for Pregnant Women

Given the risks associated with smoking during pregnancy, but also the challenges faced by all smokers when trying to quit, researchers have studied an array of approaches to improve cessation rates for this population. Many women are motivated to quit during pregnancy, but like other smokers, most will need assistance.

Studies show that behavioral treatments are effective, whereas pharmacotherapies have only marginal success. A combination of incentives and behavioral counseling is most effective for pregnant women. Adding vouchers to routine care (which included free nicotine replacement therapy for 10 weeks and four weekly support phone calls) more than doubled cessation rates during pregnancy. Pooled results of behavioral intervention studies indicate that treatment reduced preterm births and the proportion of infants born with low birth weight, compared with usual care. This finding is supported by an analysis of pooled results from studies with economically disadvantaged pregnant smokers, which found that voucher-based incentives improved sonographically estimated fetal growth, birth weight, percentage of low-birth-weight deliveries, and breastfeeding duration.

Medications

Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)-A variety of formulations of nicotine NRTs are available over the counter-including the transdermal patch, spray, gum, and lozenges-and are equally effective for cessation.37,38,197,198 NRTs stimulate the brain receptors targeted by nicotine, helping relieve nicotine withdrawal symptoms and cravings that lead to relapse. Many people use NRT to help them get through the early stages of cessation, and those with more severe nicotine addiction can benefit from longer-term treatment. Use of NRT improves smoking cessation outcomes, and adding behavioral therapies further increases quit rates. A combination of continual nicotine delivery through the transdermal patch and one other form of nicotine taken as needed (e.g., lozenge, gum, nasal spray, inhaler) has been found to be more effective at relieving withdrawal symptoms and cravings than a single type of NRT. Researchers estimate that NRT increases quit rates by 50 to 70 percent. Using the patch for up to 24 weeks has been shown to be safe.

Bupropion -Bupropion (immediate-release and extended-release) was originally approved as an antidepressant. It works by inhibiting the reuptake of the brain chemicals norepinephrine and dopamine as well as stimulating their release. Bupropion has been found to increase quit rates compared with placebo in both short- and long-term follow-up studies and is indicated for smoking cessation. It is equally effective to NRT.

Varenicline -Varenicline helps reduce nicotine cravings by stimulating the alpha-4 beta-2 nicotinic receptor but to a lesser degree than nicotine. Varenicline boosts the odds of successfully quitting, compared with unassisted attempts. Varenicline increased the likelihood of quitting compared with placebo, and some studies find that it is more effective than single forms of NRT and bupropion. In a primary care setting, 44 percent of patients on varenicline, either alone or combined with counseling, were abstinent at the 2-year follow-up. Patients who participated in group therapy and adhered to the medication were more likely to remain abstinent. Research also suggests that this medication may be more effective than bupropion.

Promising medications and ongoing research -NIDA supports research to develop new and improve current treatment options for smoking cessation based on a growing understanding of the neurobiology of addiction. In the area of medications, research is focusing on the receptors targeted by nicotine and the brain circuits and regions known to influence nicotine consumption. Newer brain targets-including the orexin and glutamate signaling systems-have also shown promise for medication treatment. Repurposing medications already on the market for other indications may also prove useful in the search for new smoking cessation therapies. This approach has been successful in the past, as bupropion was an established antidepressant before the FDA approved it as a smoking cessation medication. One current candidate is N-acetylcysteine, a medication for acetaminophen overdose, which has shown promise as a treatment for various substance use disorders-including nicotine dependence. Another approach that could prevent relapse and that has shown promise in early studies is a nicotine vaccine, which would generate antibodies that keep nicotine from reaching the brain.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a relatively new approach being tested to treat addiction. It is a physiological intervention that noninvasively stimulates neural activity in targeted areas of the brain using magnetic fields. Multiple TMS pulses given consecutively are referred to as repetitive TMS (rTMS). The FDA has approved two rTMS devices for depression treatment in adults.

Research on rTMS as a treatment for smoking cessation is in early stages but has shown promise. Among adult smokers who had not been able to quit using other treatments, high-frequency TMS treatment significantly reduced the number of cigarettes smoked. Combining high-frequency TMS with exposure to smoking cues improved effectiveness and boosted the overall abstinence rate to 44 percent at the end of the treatment. Six months after treatment, 33 percent of participants remained abstinent from cigarettes. Future randomized controlled clinical trials with large numbers of patients will be needed to establish its efficacy for smoking cessation.

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What are treatments for tobacco dependence? | National Institute on Drug Abuse

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Image Photo by ©iStock There are effective treatments that support tob

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McConnell and Kaine Want to Raise the Federal Smoking age to 21...

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McConnell and Kaine Want to Raise the Federal Smoking age to 21...

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Senator McConnell and Senator Kaine are attempting to raise the minimum age of smoking to 21 in hopes of reducing teen smoking regarding young teen's health.

May 20th, 2019

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McConnell and Kaine want to raise the federal smoking age to 21

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Fourteen states, including Virginia and Maryland, have already increased the smoking age.

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Average price for Chewing Tobacco is $3

Buying Chewing Tobacco annually result in the cost of $1,100

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Introduction

So you're a dipper and you'd like to quit.

Maybe you've already found that quitting dip or chew is not easy. But you can do it! This guide is intended to help you make your own plan for quitting.

Many former dippers have shared advice on quitting that can help you. This guide is the result of advice from chewers and dippers who have canned the habit.

Like most dippers, you probably know that the health-related reasons to quit are awesome. But you must find your own personal reasons for quitting. They can motivate you more than the fear of health consequences. It's important to develop your own recipe for willpower.

In this guide we refer more to dip than chew, just to keep it simple. Also, note that we call it spit tobacco, not smokeless tobacco. Smokeless tobacco is the term preferred by the tobacco industry. It makes the products sound safe; they aren't.

The Dangers of Dip and Chew

Here's a brief summary of the harm dipping does.

Sugar in spit tobacco may cause decay in exposed tooth roots.

Dip and chew can cause your gums to pull away from the teeth in the place where the tobacco is held. The gums do not grow back.

Leathery white patches, called leukoplakia (loo-ko-play-kia), and red sores are common in dippers and chewers and can turn into cancer.

Mouth Cancer - among the toughest cancers to treat. Surgery needed to treat mouth cancer is often difficult and disfiguring. The disease can spread quickly. On average, only half of those with mouth cancer will survive more than five years.

Need more reasons to quit?

It's expensive!

A can of dip costs an average of nearly $3. A two-can-a-week habit costs about $300 per year. A can-a-day habit costs nearly $1,100 per year. Likewise, chewing tobacco costs about $2. A pouch-a-day habit costs over $700 a year. Think of all the things you could do with that money instead of dipping or chewing. It adds up.

It's disgusting!

If the health effects don't worry you, think of how other people see your addiction.

The smell of spit tobacco in your mouth is not pleasant. While you may have become used to the odor and don't mind it, others around you notice.

Check out your clothes. Do you have tobacco juice stains on your clothes, your furniture, or on your car's upholstery? Your tobacco spit and drool could be making a mess.

Look at your teeth. Are they stained from tobacco juice? Brushing your teeth won't make this go away.

Understanding Your Addiction

Hard to believe you're a nicotine addict?

Believe it.

Nicotine, found in all tobacco products, is a highly addictive drug that acts in the brain and throughout the body.

Dip and chew contain more nicotine than cigarettes.

Some facts:

Holding an average-size dip in your mouth for 30 minutes gives you as much nicotine as smoking three cigarettes. A 2-can-a-week snuff dipper gets as much nicotine as a 1-1/2 pack-a-day smoker does.

Below is a listing comparing the nicotine levels of some popular snuff brands. Think about your own habit. Check how many of the following apply to you

Nicotine Levels of Popular Brands - Highest to Lowest

Kodiak Wintergreen

Skoal Longcut Straight

Copenhagen Snuff

Copenhagen Long Cut

Skoal Bandits Mint

Hawken Wintergreen

* This list is provided for information only. NIDCR and NCI do not endorse the use of any tobacco product

How Addicted Are You?

I no longer get sick or dizzy when I dip or chew, like I did when I first started.

I dip more often and in different settings.

I've switched to stronger products, with more nicotine.

I swallow juice from my tobacco on a regular basis.

I sometimes sleep with dip or chew in my mouth.

I take my first dip or chew first thing in the morning.

I find it hard to go more than a few hours without dip or chew.

I have strong cravings when I go without dip or chew.

The more items you check, the more likely that you are addicted.

Myths and Truths

There are several myths about spit tobacco.

Sometimes these myths make users feel more comfortable in their habits. Below are some myths and the truths that relate to them.

Myth: Spit tobacco is a harmless alternative to smoking.

Truth: Spit tobacco is still tobacco. In tobacco are nitrosamines, cancer-causing chemicals from the curing process. Note the warnings on the cans.

Myth: Dip (or chew) improves my athletic performance.

Truth: A study of professional bas

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So you're a dipper and you'd like to quit. Maybe you've already found that quitting dip or chew is not easy. But you can do it! This guide is intended to help you make your own plan for quitting. Many former dippers have shared advice on quitting that can help you.

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(Please Check E-Cigarettes, There is no finding of average cost of Vape products)...

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Cost of                           E-Cigarettes/Juuls/Vape...     

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Cost of                           E-Cigarettes/Juuls/Vape...     

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Average price for a E-Cigarette is $9.50

Buying E-Cigarettes annually result in the cost of $1,387

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Electronic cigarettes have grown in popularity since they arrived on the U.S. market in 2007. Also called e-cigarettes, e-cigs, e-smokes and vapes, they simulate cigarette smoking without the smell and the smoke.

Marketing campaigns have suggested that e-cigarettes are less hazardous to your health than smoking cigarettes, but the devices' long-term effects on health have not been studied. However, they may take less of a toll on your wallet.

NerdWallet compared e-cigarettes to regular tobacco cigarettes to weigh the pros and cons of vaping.

What are e-cigarettes?

E-cigs are devices that give you the sensation of smoking, including some nicotine, without the odor. There are two main types of e-cigarettes. Disposable e-cigs run on a built-in battery and come as one, single piece. Rechargeable e-cigs have batteries, chargers, e-liquid, cartridges and an atomizer. Some brands combine the cartridge and atomizer into one part, called a cartomizer or clearomizer. The liquid is sometimes combined with the battery or cartridge.

Both disposable and rechargeable vapes use a liquid containing water, nicotine, flavoring and glycerin or propylene glycol, as well as other chemicals. When a drag is taken from the e-cig, the liquid is converted into vapor, drawn into the lungs and exhaled. The vapor and smell disappear into the air within a few seconds.

Why are so many people vaping now?

Vapes are becoming more popular. With more than 460 brands available online, they're also sold in convenience stores and supermarkets. When e-cigs first hit the market in 2007 there was little awareness of electronic nicotine. According to a Consumer Style survey, about one-third of adults were aware of e-cigarettes by 2010. In fact, four times as many adults surveyed had tried them at least once as compared to a similar survey from 2009.

What makes e-cigs more attractive?

E-cigarettes are now offered in about 7,000 flavors, ranging from the comforting essence of apple pie to the exotic style of tiger's blood. Tobacco and menthol tobacco flavors are available if you want to mimic the taste or sensation of smoking cigarettes. In contrast, tobacco cigarettes are available in two flavors in the U.S., regular and menthol.

Vapes present fewer concerns about breaking smoking laws in public places, but there are other factors to consider. Manufacturers and distributors are marketing e-cigs as a positive alternative to smoking cigarettes because they're cheaper, cleaner and can be smoked anywhere. Many also link vaping with quitting smoking.

Does vaping help you quit smoking?

Nicotine is an addictive substance that occurs naturally in tobacco. E-cigarette manufacturers offer products with varying levels of nicotine, including some with no nicotine. A study conducted in New Zealand found e-cigarettes to be slightly more effective than nicotine patches in helping participants quit. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, no e-cigs have been approved as therapeutic devices to help people quit smoking. The Food and Drug Administration recently added e-cigarettes to its list of items it wants to regulate, but it's not clear whether this will happen.

Are e-cigs healthier than regular cigarettes?

Tobacco is the No. 1 cause of preventable death in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While e-cigarettes are touted by some manufacturers as alternatives to tobacco use, they haven't been available long enough for a long-term study on health effects.

Vapor from e-cigarettes contains some toxic substances, but a study in 2013 that tested a dozen brands of e-cigs found the toxicity levels were between nine and 450 times lower than regular cigarette smoke.

How does the cost of e-cigarettes compare to tobacco cigarettes?

E-cigs are much cheaper than tobacco cigarettes. A regular cigarette offers about 10 puffs in five to 10 minutes, and each pack has 20 cigarettes. The number of puffs that can be taken continuously with e-cigs varies. Vaping cartridges that last about 200 puffs are equivalent to about one pack of cigarettes. The cost of e-cigarettes versus regular tobacco cigarettes depends on how much and how long you smoke. The type of e-cigarette you buy greatly affects the cost.

The average cost of a pack of cigarettes in the U.S. is $7.04. That's $2,569.60 per year for a pack-a-day smoker.

Disposable vapes cost more per cartridge, but there's no charger, battery or e-liquid to buy and replenish. They run about $9 or $10 per e-cigarette. At an average of $9.50 apiece and an equivalent of 2.5 packs of smokes, they cost about $1,387 per year.

Rechargeable starter kits are initially more expensive and vary widely in price. One vendor's prices range from $25 to $145, for example.

The yearly expense for a rechargeable e-cigarette for a converted pack-a-day smoker is about $2.66 per cartridge, or $605 per year. That comes out to about 227 cartridges per year.

You can buy liquid refills for a kit instead at about $43 per month, or $516 per year, for a pack-a-day equivalent.

While there's little scientific data showing whether e-cigs are less harmful, they don't have the immediate health concerns of tobacco cigarettes. Vapes are less expensive, whether you buy the disposable or rechargeable kind. E-cigs are an option if you want to try to quit smoking, but the long-term effects of health benefits and hazards are still unknown.
E-cigarette photo via Shutterstock.

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Are E-Cigarettes Any Better Than Smoking? - NerdWallet

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Electronic cigarettes have grown in popularity since they arrived on the U.S. market in 2007. Also called e-cigarettes, e-cigs, e-smokes and vapes, they simulate cigarette smoking without the smell and the smoke. Marketing campaigns have suggested that e-cigarettes are less hazardous to your health than smoking cigarettes, but the devices' long-term effects on health have not been studied.

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Prices for cigarettes by state is $5.51

Buying cigarettes annually result in the cost of $1,900

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Cigarettes have an average cost of $5.51 with the price in most states being between six and eight dollars. This number is taken from the combined prices of all of the states but the actual numbers varying greatly with the most expensive cigarettes costing on average $12.85 (New York). Overall smoking is an expensive habit and in one year in New York it is possible to spend over $4,690 for cigarettes alone.

The main reason for the extreme prices of cigarettes in New York is the cigarette tax. The state imposed a tax that comes out to $4.35 on every pack of 20. In addition to the cigarette tax there is a New York state sales tax which adds on $1.60 to the price.The cost mentioned earlier of $12.50 is just an average of the state's cigarette prices and some researchers have found prices all the way up to over $14 a pack. Some people speculate these high prices are to help dissuade people from purchasing cigarettes and to start on healthier habits.

If you are looking to live in a state where cigarettes won't cost you that much money you would be best advised to move over to Missouri or Virginia. Both state's average price for cigarettes is $5.25, which is actually a 10% decrease from the 2014 cost in Virginia. Missouri also has the lowest state excise tax at only $0.17 per pack.

Kentucky formerly had the lowest price on a pack of cigarettes at just under $5 but they lost their ground and a pack there now costs $5.40. Some other states such as Alabama, Arkansas,Iowa, and South Dakota, have reduced in price. Arizona has the lowest drop in price, the cost of cigarettes was reduced by 17% or $1.60. California and Iowa tie for second largest price reduction at 13%. Despite the reductions in prices no state saw prices as low as the lowest 2014 prices.

Over half of the states saw price increases. 62%, or 32 states, saw increases in the cost of cigarettes. The largest increase was 36% in Minnesota that comes to a $2.15 cent increase. The smallest increase seen was .01% or $0.03

In every state the cost to buy cigarettes for 20 years is over $38,000; that is enough money to buy a new car or in some states put a down payment on a house. None of these numbers take into account the medical costs of smoking cigarettes. The average yearly treatment for lung cancer in the United States is over $8,000 and to start treatment costs over $60,000. If a smoker would invest in gold the money spent on cigarettes, the value of the purchased metal would be worth a house at the time of retirement, considering the value appreciation of gold during this time.

Regular smokers are going to be upset as the prices on average in the United States have risen. Experts and researchers think that they are only going to continue to rise which will upset many smokers. The majority of prices used for the averages in each state come from convenience stores and fuel stations from the most populated areas in the states. There is a chance that some of the states offer cheaper prices outside of the cities but don't get your hopes up, no one surveyed had cigarettes offered for under $5.

In the table below you will see the average price for a pack of cigarettes in all US States:

Fortunately for smokers, there are also some good news for them. The new technologies have brought to the market some amazing alternative products that are much healthier and also cheaper. E-Liquids (vaporizers) are an excellent alternative that offers all the pleasure of smoking without the health hazards and with much lower costs. In comparison to regular cigarettes, vaporizers are much cheaper. Studies have shown that 2 ml of E-Liquids are the equivalent of one pack of cigarettes, and with a 30 ml bottle of E-Liquids costing only $16, we can conclude that the price equivalent for vaporizers is only $1.06 (you can buy them from VaporFI). Vaporizers come in many distinct flavors, so you can experience a multitude of sensations and try something new whenever you want.

The prices of cigarettes have been going up for a very long time, and the trend is almost certain to continue, considering the policy makers aggressive stance on smoking. While buying cigarettes from cheaper sources can be a good way to reduce the cost associated with this habit, quitting smoking for good is surely the most economical and healthy option for everyone. Modern programs such as Mike Avery's Quit Smoking Magic have a very high success rate in helping people quit smoking for good and can be a very effective way to save money in the future.

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Prices Of Cigarettes By State - Fair Reporters

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Cigarettes have an average cost of $5.51 with the price in most states being between six and eight dollars. This number is taken from the combined prices of all of the states but the actual numbers varying greatly with the most expensive cigarettes costing on average $12.85 (New York).

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There are more than  7,000 chemicals in tobacco smoke. 250 f them are known to be harmful, 69 of them causes cancer.

Acetaldehyde

Aromatic amines

Arsenic

Benzene

Beryllium (a toxic metal)

Butadiene (a hazardous gas)

Cadmium (a toxic metal)

Chromium (a metallic element)

Cumene

Ethylene oxide

Formaldehyde

The list continues...

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On This Page

What harmful chemicals does tobacco smoke contain?

Tobacco smoke contains many chemicals that are harmful to both smokers and nonsmokers. Breathing even a little tobacco smoke can be harmful ( 1- 4).

Of the more than 7,000 chemicals in tobacco smoke, at least 250 are known to be harmful, including hydrogen cyanide, carbon monoxide, and ammonia ( 1, 2, 5).

Among the 250 known harmful chemicals in tobacco smoke, at least 69 can cause cancer. These cancer-causing chemicals include the following ( 1, 2, 5):

What are some of the health problems caused by cigarette smoking?

Smoking is the leading cause of premature, preventable death in this country. Cigarette smoking and exposure to tobacco smoke cause about 480,000 premature deaths each year in the United States ( 1). Of those premature deaths, about 36% are from cancer, 39% are from heart disease and stroke, and 24% are from lung disease ( 1). Mortality rates among smokers are about three times higher than among people who have never smoked ( 6, 7).

Smoking harms nearly every bodily organ and organ system in the body and diminishes a person's overall health. Smoking causes cancers of the lung, esophagus, larynx, mouth, throat, kidney, bladder, liver, pancreas, stomach, cervix, colon, and rectum, as well as acute myeloid leukemia ( 1- 3).

Smoking also causes heart disease, stroke, aortic aneurysm (a balloon-like bulge in an artery in the chest), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) ( chronic bronchitis and emphysema), diabetes, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, age-related macular degeneration, and cataracts, and worsens asthma symptoms in adults. Smokers are at higher risk of developing pneumonia, tuberculosis, and other airway infections ( 1- 3). In addition, smoking causes inflammation and impairs immune function ( 1).

Since the 1960s, a smoker's risk of developing lung cancer or COPD has actually increased compared with nonsmokers, even though the number of cigarettes consumed per smoker has decreased ( 1). There have also been changes over time in the type of lung cancer smokers develop - a decline in squamous cell carcinomas but a dramatic increase in adenocarcinomas. Both of these shifts may be due to changes in cigarette design and composition, in how tobacco leaves are cured, and in how deeply smokers inhale cigarette smoke and the toxicants it contains ( 1, 8).

Smoking makes it harder for a woman to get pregnant. A pregnant smoker is at higher risk of miscarriage, having an ectopic pregnancy, having her baby born too early and with an abnormally low birth weight, and having her baby born with a cleft lip and/or cleft palate ( 1). A woman who smokes during or after pregnancy increases her infant's risk of death from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) ( 2, 3). Men who smoke are at greater risk of erectile dysfunction ( 1, 9).

The longer a smoker's duration of smoking, the greater their likelihood of experiencing harm from smoking, including earlier death ( 7). But regardless of their age, smokers can substantially reduce their risk of disease, including cancer, by quitting.

What are the risks of tobacco smoke to nonsmokers?

Secondhand smoke (also called environmental tobacco smoke, involuntary smoking, and passive smoking) is the combination of "sidestream" smoke (the smoke given off by a burning tobacco product) and "mainstream" smoke (the smoke exhaled by a smoker) ( 4, 5, 10, 11).

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. National Toxicology Program, the U.S. Surgeon General, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer have classified secondhand smoke as a known human carcinogen (cancer-causing agent) ( 5, 11, 12). Inhaling secondhand smoke causes lung cancer in nonsmoking adults ( 1, 2, 4). Approximately 7,300 lung cancer deaths occur each year among adult nonsmokers in the United States as a result of exposure to secondhand smoke ( 1). The U.S. Surgeon General estimates that living with a smoker increases a nonsmoker's chances of developing lung cancer by 20 to 30% ( 4).

Secondhand smoke causes disease and premature death in nonsmoking adults and children ( 2, 4). Exposure to secondhand smoke irritates the airways and has immediate harmful effects on a person's heart and blood vessels. It increases the risk of heart disease by an estimated 25 to 30% ( 4). In the United States, exposure to secondhand smoke is estimated to cause about 34,000 deaths from heart disease each year ( 1). Exposure to secondhand smoke also increases the risk of stroke by 20 to 30% ( 1). Pregnant women exposed to secondhand smoke are at increased risk of having a baby with a small reduction in birth weight ( 1).

Children exposed to secondhand smoke are at an increased risk of SIDS, ear infections, colds, pneumonia, and bronchitis. Secondhand smoke exposure can also increase the frequency and severity of asthma symptoms among children who have asthma. Being exposed to secondhand smoke slows the growth of children's lungs and can cause them to cough, wheeze, and feel breathless ( 2, 4).

Is smoking addictive?

Smoking is highly addictive. Nicotine is the drug primarily responsible for a person's addiction to tobacco products, including cigarettes. The addiction to cigarettes and other tobacco products that nicotine causes is similar to the addiction produced by using drugs such as heroin and cocaine ( 13). Nicotine is present naturally in the tobacco plant. But tobacco companies intentionally design cigarettes to have enough nicotine to create and sustain addiction.

The amount of nicotine that gets into the body is determined by the way a person smokes a tobacco product and by the nicotine content and design of the product. Nicotine is absorbed into the bloodstream through the lining of the mouth and the lungs and travels to the brain in a matter of seconds. Taking more frequent and deeper puffs of tobacco smoke increases the amount of nicotine absorbed by the body.

Are other tobacco products, such as smokeless tobacco or pipe tobacco, harmful and addictive?

Yes. All forms of tobacco are harmful and addictive ( 4, 11). There is no safe tobacco product.

In addition to cigarettes, other forms of tobacco include smokeless tobacco, cigars, pipes, hookahs (waterpipes), bidis, and kreteks.

Smokeless tobacco: Smokeless tobacco is a type of tobacco that is not burned. It includes chewing tobacco, oral tobacco, spit or spitting tobacco, dip, chew, snus, dissolvable tobacco, and snuff. Smokeless tobacco causes oral (mouth, tongue, cheek and gum), esophageal, and pancreatic cancers and may also cause gum and heart disease (11, 14).

Cigars: These include premium cigars, little filtered cigars (LFCs), and cigarillos. LFCs resemble cigarettes, but both LFCs and cigarillos may have added flavors to increase appeal to youth and young adults (15, 16). Most cigars are composed primarily of a single type of tobacco (air-cured and fermented), and have a tobacco leaf wrapper. Studies have found that cigar smoke contains higher levels of toxic chemicals than cigarette smoke, although unlike cigarette smoke, cigar smoke is often not inhaled (11). Cigar smoking causes cancer of the oral cavity, larynx, esophagus, and lung. It may also cause cancer of the pancreas. Moreover, daily cigar smokers, particularly those who inhale, are at increased risk for developing heart disease and other types of lung disease.

Pipes: In pipe smoking, the tobacco is placed in a bowl that is connected to a stem with a mouthpiece at the other end. The smoke is usually not inhaled. Pipe smoking causes lung cancer and increases the risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, larynx, and esophagus (11, 17, 18).

Hookah or waterpipe (other names include argileh, ghelyoon, hubble bubble, shisha, boory, goza, and narghile): A hookah is a device used to smoke tobacco (often heavily flavored) by passing the smoke through a partially filled water bowl before being inhaled by the smoker. Although some people think hookah smoking is less harmful and addictive than cigarette smoking (19), research shows that hookah smoke is at least as toxic as cigarette smoke (20-22).

Bidis: A bidi is a flavored cigarette made by rolling tobacco in a dried leaf from the tendu tree, which is native to India. Bidi use is associated with heart attacks and cancers of the mouth, throat, larynx, esophagus, and lung (11, 23).

Kreteks: A kretek is a cigarette made with a mixture of tobacco and cloves. Smoking kreteks is associated with lung cancer and other lung diseases (11, 23).

Is it harmful to smoke just a few cigarettes a day?

There is no safe level of smoking. Smoking even just one cigarette per day over a lifetime can cause smoking-related cancers (lung, bladder, and pancreas) and premature death ( 24, 25).

What are the immediate health benefits of quitting smoking?

The immediate health benefits of quitting smoking are substantial:

Heart rate and blood pressure, which are abnormally high while smoking, begin to return to normal.

Within a few hours, the level of carbon monoxide in the blood begins to decline. (Carbon monoxide reduces the blood's ability to carry oxygen.)

Within a few weeks, people who quit smoking have improved circulation, produce less phlegm, and don't cough or wheeze as often.

Within several months of quitting, people can expect substantial improvements in lung function (26).

Within a few years of quitting, people will have lower risks of cancer, heart disease, and other chronic diseases than if they had continued to smoke.

What are the long-term health benefits of quitting smoking?

Quitting smoking reduces the risk of cancer and many other diseases, such as heart disease and COPD, caused by smoking.

Data from the U.S. National Health Interview Survey show that people who quit smoking, regardless of their age, are less likely to die from smoking-related illness than those who continue to smoke. Smokers who quit before age 40 reduce their chance of dying prematurely from smoking-related diseases by about 90%, and those who quit by age 45-54 reduce their chance of dying prematurely by about two-thirds ( 6).

Regardless of their age, people who quit smoking have substantial gains in life expectancy, compared with those who continue to smoke. Data from the U.S. National Health Interview Survey also show that those who quit between the ages of 25 and 34 years live about 10 years longer; those who quit between ages 35 and 44 live about 9 years longer; those who quit between ages 45 and 54 live about 6 years longer; and those who quit between ages 55 and 64 live about 4 years longer ( 6).

Also, a study that followed a large group of people age 70 and older ( 7) found that even smokers who quit smoking in their 60s had a lower risk of mortality during follow-up than smokers who continued smoking.

Does quitting smoking lower the risk of getting and dying from cancer?

Yes. Quitting smoking reduces the risk of developing and dying from cancer and other diseases caused by smoking. Although it is never too late to benefit from quitting, the benefit is greatest among those who quit at a younger age ( 3).

The risk of premature death and the chances of developing and dying from a smoking-related cancer depend on many factors, including the number of years a person has smoked, the number of cigarettes smoked per day, and the age at which the person began smoking.

Is it important for someone diagnosed with cancer to quit smoking?

Quitting smoking improves the prognosis of cancer patients. For patients with some cancers, quitting smoking at the time of diagnosis may reduce the risk of dying by 30% to 40% ( 1). For those having surgery, chemotherapy, or other treatments, quitting smoking helps improve the body's ability to heal and respond to therapy ( 1, 3, 27). It also lowers the risk of pneumonia and respiratory failure ( 1, 3, 28). In addition, quitting smoking may lower the risk that the cancer will recur, that a second cancer will develop, or that the person will die from the cancer or other causes ( 27, 29- 32).

Where can I get help to quit smoking?

NCI and other agencies and organizations can help smokers quit:

Selected References

1. National Toxicology Program. Tobacco-Related Exposures. In: Report on Carcinogens. Fourteenth Edition. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, National Toxicology Program, 2016.

2. International Agency for Research on Cancer. Tobacco smoking, Second-hand tobacco smoke, and Smokeless tobacco. In: Personal Habits and Indoor Combustions: A Review of Human Carcinogens. IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans, Vol. 100E. Lyon, France: International Agency for Research on Cancer; 2012. p. 43-318.

3. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Respiratory Health Effects of Passive Smoking: Lung Cancer and Other Disorders. Washington, DC: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development; 1992.

4. World Health Organization (Tobacco Free Initiative): Advisory Note. Waterpipe Tobacco Smoking: Health Effects, Research Needs and Recommended Actions for Regulators, 2nd edition. 2015. (retrieved December 12, 2017, from http://www.who.int/tobacco/publications/prod_regulation/waterpipesecondedition/en/)

5. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Health Benefits of Smoking Cessation: A Report of the Surgeon General. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health, 1990.

If you would like to reproduce some or all of this content, see Reuse of NCI Information for guidance about copyright and permissions. In the case of permitted digital reproduction, please credit the National Cancer Institute as the source and link to the original NCI product using the original product's title; e.g., "Harms of Cigarette Smoking and Health Benefits of Quitting was originally published by the National Cancer Institute."

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Harms of Cigarette Smoking and Health Benefits of Quitting

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A fact sheet that lists some of the cancer-causing chemicals in tobacco smoke and describes the health problems caused by cigarette smoking and the benefits of quitting.

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1. Chewing Tobacco has 28 cancer causing chemicals in them.

2. Chewing Tobacco does contain nicotine contrary to common misconception.

3. Chewing Tobacco risks you to numerous oral cancers.

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Chewing tobacco facts

Smokeless, snuff, or chewing tobacco contains nicotine as well as many known carcinogens (cancer-causing substances).

More nicotine is absorbed by chewing tobacco use that by smoking a cigarette.

Chewing tobacco use is a risk factor for the development of oral cancers and precancers.

Other health risks of chewing tobacco include gum disease, tooth decay and tooth loss, and possible links to other cancers and cardiovascular disease.

Products that are designed to help smokers quit can also be used to help quit chewing tobacco use.

What is chewing tobacco?

Chewing tobacco is sometimes known as chewing tobacco or spitting tobacco. It is available in two forms, snuff and chewing tobacco. Both types of chewing tobacco are held in the mouth inside the cheek or between the cheek and gum. Snuff and chewing tobacco are commonly available in tins or pouches; popular brand names include Skoal and Copenhagen. Snus (pronounced like "snoose") is a finely ground form of snuff that originated in Norway and Sweden that comes in small tins. The amount of snuff placed in the mouth is referred to as a pinch, dip, lipper, or quid. A portion of chewing tobacco is referred to as a plug, wad, or chew.

Chewing tobacco is known to contain at least 28 cancer-causing chemicals, medically known as carcinogens. The main carcinogens in chewing tobacco are the tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs). Some of the other cancer-causing agents found in chewing tobacco are formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, arsenic, benzopyrene, nickel, and cadmium. Many people mistakenly believed that snus is a safe form of chewing tobacco because it is steam-heated rather than fermented when produced in Norway or Sweden, causing it to have fewer nitrosamines. However, snus still contains a number of cancer-causing chemicals. Snus made in America is not necessarily processed in the same way as in Norway or Sweden.

Nicotine is also found in snuff and chewing tobacco, like all tobacco products. Although nicotine is absorbed more slowly from chewing tobacco than from cigarettes, 3 to 4 times more nicotine is absorbed from chewing tobacco than from a cigarette, and the nicotine from chewing tobacco remains longer in the bloodstream. Nicotine is the substance responsible for tobacco addiction.

Chewing tobacco is not the same thing as chewing cigarettes. Chewing cigarettes (also termed e-cigarettes) are designed to provide nicotine in vapor to the user without burning tobacco. However, the smokeless cigarettes still provide addictive nicotine to the user and secondhand nicotine to others.

What are the health risks of chewing tobacco?

A number of significant health risks are associated with the use of chewing tobacco.

Cancer risk and chewing tobacco

Users of snuff and chewing tobacco are at an increased risk for certain types of cancer, most notably cancer of the oral cavity including cancers of the:

cheek,

gums,

lips,

tongue, and

floor and roof of the mouth.

Some studies have suggested a link between the use of chewing tobacco and the development of:

Other health risks of chewing tobacco

Those who use chewing tobacco have an increased risk of:

developing gum diseases and gum recession (pulling away of the gum tissue from the teeth);

leukoplakia (whitish patches inside the mouth that can become cancerous);

abrasion (wearing down) of teeth;

staining of teeth;

tooth decay; and

tooth loss.

All of the above have been linked to chewing tobacco use.

Some studies have shown a link between an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (including heart attacks and stroke) in users of snuff and chewing tobacco, although these risks are not as great as those observed in smokers. Further research is needed to determine whether or not chewing tobacco use presents a significant risk of heart disease and stroke.

SLIDESHOW
See Slideshow

Is chewing tobacco safer than cigarette smoking?

Chewing tobacco has been widely marketed as a way for cigarette smokers to use tobacco in smoke-free areas, so it is safer for other people because they are not exposed to secondhand smoke. However, in 1986, a statement from the U.S. Surgeon General concluded that users of chewing tobacco should know that chewing tobacco "is not a safe substitute for smoking cigarettes." Chewing tobacco contains nicotine, which is highly addictive, as well as a number of known cancer-causing chemicals. Any form of tobacco use poses an increased risk of developing cancer, and no level is considered safe.

While the risks of getting cancer from chewing tobacco are lower than those associated with smoking cigarettes, the health risks of chewing tobacco are very real and potentially fatal. Chewing tobacco use also has not been shown to be helpful for smokers who want to quit smoking.

What is being done to reduce the use of chewing tobacco?

Parents are encouraged by health care givers, school authorities, and public health officials to include the topic of chewing tobacco use when they discuss the hazards of any tobacco use with their children, especially teen aged children. It is better never to start than try to stop the addictive tobacco (nicotine) habit in any form.

Legislation has been enacted to help reduce the number of people who use tobacco products and reduce adverse health risks associated with tobacco use. The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act of 2009 gives the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the power to regulate tobacco products in the U.S., which will allow for increased regulation of marketing and advertising of tobacco products, including chewing tobacco.

In 2015, San Francisco became the first US city to ban the use of smokeless tobacco at sporting events, including AT&T Park, home of the city's Major League Baseball team, the Giants.

What treatments are available to help people quit using chewing tobacco?

Chewing tobacco is an addiction that can be overcome. As with cigarette smoking, various support systems, programs, and even prescription medications are available to help people quit using chewing tobacco. Examples of products available used to wean a person from nicotine addiction from chewing tobacco include:

Prescription medicines such as bupropion SR ( Zyban and Wellbutrin SR) and varenicline tartrate ( Chantix) have been effective in some patients that are trying to quit nicotine.

Medically reviewed by Avrom Simon, MD; Board Certified Preventative Medicine with Subspecialty in Occupational Medicine

REFERENCES:

American Cancer Society. Smokeless Tobacco.
<http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/tobaccocancer/smokeless-tobacco>

American Cancer Society. Smokeless tobacco and how to quit.
<http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/PED_10_13X_Quitting_Smokeless_Tobacco.asp>

Boffeta P, Hecht S, Gray N, Gupta P, Straif K. Smokeless tobacco and Cancer. Lancet Oncol 2008 Jul;9(7):667-75.

eMedicine.com. Smokeless tobacco lesions.
< http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1077117-overview>

Gupta R, Gurm H, Bartholomew JR. Smokeless tobacco and cardiovascular risk. Arch Intern Med 2004 Sept;164(17):1845-9.

U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI). Smokeless tobacco and cancer, questions and answers.
<http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Tobacco/smokeless>

Complete List

Top Smokeless Tobacco Related Articles

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Pregnancy Planning (Preparing for Pregnancy)

Pregnancy planning is an important step in preparation for starting or expanding a family. Planning for a pregnancy includes taking prenatal vitamins, eating healthy for you and your baby, disease prevention (for both parents and baby) to prevent birth defects and infections, avoiding certain medications that may be harmful to your baby, how much weight gain is healthy exercise safety and pregnancy, travel during pregnancy.

CONTINUE SCROLLING FOR RELATED SLIDESHOW

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Chewing Tobacco Health Effects (Cancer Facts, How to Quit)

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Chewing tobacco, snuff, or smokeless tobacco effects health adversely with oral cancers, gum disease, tooth decay (cavities), tooth loss, and bad breath. Learn how to quit chewing tobacco, the side effects of chewing tobacco, and how mouth cancer can arise from chewing tobacco.

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1. Vape is sold in flavors

2. It contains many toxins, such as diacetyl.

3. Vaping leads to health problems like coughing, wheezing, and sinus infections.

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Myth

It's just harmless water vapor.

Fact

It's not harmless, and it's not just water vapor. It may contain toxins, potentially cancerous agents and dangerous chemicals like diacetyl, which is known to cause a potentially fatal lung disease called popcorn lung. It most often contains a combination of propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, flavorings and nicotine.

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Vape: Myths vs. Facts - Get the Facts About Vape, Including Ingredients and Risks - Tobacco Free Colorado

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It's just harmless water vapor. It's not harmless, and it's not just water vapor. It may contain toxins, potentially cancerous agents and dangerous chemicals like diacetyl, which is known to cause a potentially fatal lung disease called popcorn lung. It most often contains a combination of propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, flavorings and nicotine.

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Physical Facts about E-Cigarette and Juul Use...

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Physical Facts about E-Cigarette and Juul Use...

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1. Can cause lung damage

2. Higher risk of heart attack and stroke.

3. Can lead changes to behavior, less impulse control.

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See how e-cigarettes affect your lungs, brain, heart, and other parts of your body.

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1. You can become addicted to chewing tobacco.

2. Chewing tobacco is a dangerous alternative to just Smoking Tobacco.

3. Using chewing tobacco can expose you to 28 known carcinogens.

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Smokeless tobacco, also known as chew, snuff, spit tobacco, plug, chewing tobacco, chaw, dip and other names, describes a variety of tobacco products that are not smoked by the consumer.

Instead, this type of tobacco is usually placed in the mouth between the cheek or lower lip and the gums, where it mixes with saliva and releases juices that contain nicotine. The nicotine is then absorbed through the tissues in the mouth.

Smokeless tobacco is sold in cans or pouches, as both leaf tobacco that is moist or as plugs or bricks. It can be dry or moist. Dry smokeless tobacco is called snuff and is usually sold in a can.

These products carry a number of health hazards for consumers.

1. Smokeless Tobacco Contains Harmful Chemicals

Smokeless tobacco is known to contain 28 carcinogens, including very high levels of tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs). TSNAs are known to be some of the most potent carcinogens present in chewing tobacco, snuff and tobacco smoke.

Other cancer-causing substances in smokeless tobacco are known to include:

2. Smokeless Tobacco Products Cause Cancer

People who use dip or chewing tobacco increase their risk of oral cancer by 50 percent as compared to those who do not use these products. This includes cancer of the lip, tongue, cheek, roof, and floor of the mouth, as well as cancer of the larynx.

Smokeless tobacco users also face an increased risk of pancreatic cancer.

3. Smokeless Tobacco Is Addictive

Dip and chewing tobacco contain more nicotine than commercially manufactured cigarettes. A typical dose of nicotine in snuff is 3.6 milligrams (mg); in chewing tobacco, the amount of nicotine is closer to 4.5 mg. Compared to an average of 1 to 2 mg of nicotine in a commercially produced cigarette, the difference is significant.

When used according to package directions, the nicotine in smokeless tobacco is easily absorbed through the lining of the mouth in quantities sufficient to cause addiction.

4. Smokeless Tobacco Causes Gum Disease, Bone Loss, Leukoplakia and Tooth Decay

Smokeless tobacco creates an unhealthy environment in the mouth that leads to a variety of nasty problems. In addition to brown-stained teeth and bad breath, users also face:

Permanent gum recession and bone loss where the tobacco rests

Leukoplakia, a condition characterized by benign or precancerous lesions on the tongue or inside of the cheeks

Tooth decay from the sugar used to enhance the flavor of smokeless tobacco

5. Smokeless Tobacco Causes Other Health Problems

While the results are inconclusive at this time, researchers are reviewing possible links between smokeless tobacco and heart disease, high blood pressure, the risk of stroke and diabetes.

Smokeless Tobacco Is a Dangerous Alternative to Cigarettes

Smokeless tobacco is less deadly than cigarette smoking-there is no disputing that. With approximately 7000 chemical compounds in cigarette smoke, hundreds of which are known to be poisonous, and dozens that are carcinogenic, smoking is by far the most hazardous form of tobacco use on the planet today.

That said, smokeless tobacco poses serious risks to the user that do not make this class of tobacco product a safe alternative to smoking.

Cigarette smoking is part addiction to nicotine and part habit, born out of many years of associating smoking with every activity we have in our daily lives. Smokers who switch to smokeless tobacco are still addicted to nicotine and still link tobacco to the activities in their lives. Because of this, the risk of a smoking relapse is substantial.

Smokeless Tobacco as a Quit Aid

All tobacco products carry the risk of disease and addiction, and as such are not good choices as quit aids.

Using harm reduction as a fix for smoking can also be disempowering. While a person might think of the switch as a proactive move to improve one's health, they are also telling themselves-usually on a subconscious level-that they are not strong enough to quit using tobacco altogether. And to make matters worse, this justification can become a pacifier, causing the user to put quitting tobacco on the back burner indefinitely.

We all have what it takes to beat nicotine addiction successfully. With the right tools at hand to help us change our relationship with nicotine, freedom is within reach of every person who wants it.

Nicotine Replacement Therapies (NRTs)

Nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs), which contain nicotine but none of the other hazardous chemicals present in tobacco products, are a better choice as a nicotine-based quit aid.

That doesn't mean one shouldn't use NRTs, but it does mean that package directions should be followed carefully and that ex-smokers wean themselves off of the products in the time recommended.

All Tobacco and Nicotine Products Carry Risks

Some forms of tobacco are more hazardous than others, but all tobacco products carry risks to the user that include addiction and potentially deadly health issues.

We all deserve freedom from nicotine addiction. Imagine a life that is free of the need to use a drug multiple times a day, day-in and day-out. If you smoke or use any type of tobacco product, you can quit, and you do have what it takes to do it within you right now.

Resources to Help You Stop Using Tobacco

Use the quit smoking resources to help you tap into your own inner strength and resolve to quit smoking. The work it takes to claim your freedom is small indeed when compared to the benefits you'll enjoy, from improved health to the boost of confidence you'll get from overcoming nicotine addiction.

Thanks for your feedback!

What are your concerns?

Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand

Article Sources

Why Is It So Hard to Quit Smokeless Tobacco? American Cancer Society.

Smokeless Tobacco and Cancer: Questions and Answers. National Cancer Institute.

Smokeless (Spit) Tobacco Is a Significant Health Risk. The Government of Saskatchewan.

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Reasons to Stay Away From Smokeless Tobacco

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Smokeless tobacco, also known as chew, snuff, spit tobacco, plug, chewing tobacco, chaw, dip and other names, describes a variety of tobacco products that are not smoked by the consumer. Instead, this type of tobacco is usually placed in the mouth between the cheek or lower lip and the gums, where it mixes with saliva and releases juices that contain nicotine.

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1. You are more prone to suffer a stroke (at least 50% more) than someone who doesn't smoke.

2. Smoking a cigarette can caused unattractive problems such as stained teeth and bad breath.

3. Smoking can cause Lung Cancer

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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Cigarette smoking harms nearly every organ of the body, causes many diseases, and reduces the health of smokers in general. 1,2

Quitting smoking lowers your risk for smoking-related diseases and can add years to your life. 1,2

Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. ¹

Cigarette smoking causes more than 480,000 deaths each year in the United States. This is nearly one in five deaths.1,2,3

Smoking causes more deaths each year than the following causes combined:⁴

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

Illegal drug use

Alcohol use

Motor vehicle injuries

Firearm-related incidents

More than 10 times as many U.S. citizens have died prematurely from cigarette smoking than have died in all the wars fought by the United States.¹

Smoking causes about 90% (or 9 out of 10) of all lung cancer deaths.1,2 More women die from lung cancer each year than from breast cancer.⁵

Smoking causes about 80% (or 8 out of 10) of all deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).¹

Cigarette smoking increases risk for death from all causes in men and women.¹

The risk of dying from cigarette smoking has increased over the last 50 years in the U.S.¹

Smokers are more likely than nonsmokers to develop heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer. ¹

Estimates show smoking increases the risk:

For coronary heart disease by 2 to 4 times1,6

For stroke by 2 to 4 times¹

Of men developing lung cancer by 25 times¹

Of women developing lung cancer by 25.7 times¹

Smoking causes diminished overall health, increased absenteeism from work, and increased health care utilization and cost.¹

Smokers are at greater risk for diseases that affect the heart and blood vessels (cardiovascular disease). 1,2

Smoking causes stroke and coronary heart disease, which are among the leading causes of death in the United States.1,3

Even people who smoke fewer than five cigarettes a day can have early signs of cardiovascular disease.¹

Smoking damages blood vessels and can make them thicken and grow narrower. This makes your heart beat faster and your blood pressure go up. Clots can also form.1,2

A stroke occurs when:

A clot blocks the blood flow to part of your brain;

A blood vessel in or around your brain bursts.1,2

Blockages caused by smoking can also reduce blood flow to your legs and skin.1,2

Smoking can cause lung disease by damaging your airways and the small air sacs (alveoli) found in your lungs. 1,2

Lung diseases caused by smoking include COPD, which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis.1,2

Cigarette smoking causes most cases of lung cancer.1,2

If you have asthma, tobacco smoke can trigger an attack or make an attack worse.1,2

Smokers are 12 to 13 times more likely to die from COPD than nonsmokers.¹

Smoking can cause cancer almost anywhere in your body: 1,2

Bladder

Blood (acute myeloid leukemia)

Cervix

Colon and rectum (colorectal)

Esophagus

Kidney and ureter

Larynx

Liver

Oropharynx (includes parts of the throat, tongue, soft palate, and the tonsils)

Pancreas

Stomach

Trachea, bronchus, and lung

Smoking also increases the risk of dying from cancer and other diseases in cancer patients and survivors. ¹

If nobody smoked, one of every three cancer deaths in the United States would not happen. 1,2

Smoking harms nearly every organ of the body and affects a person's overall health. 1,2

Smoking can make it harder for a woman to become pregnant. It can also affect her baby's health before and after birth. Smoking increases risks for:1,2,5

Preterm (early) delivery

Stillbirth (death of the baby before birth)

Low birth weight

Sudden infant death syndrome (known as SIDS or crib death)

Ectopic pregnancy

Orofacial clefts in infants

Smoking can also affect men's sperm, which can reduce fertility and also increase risks for birth defects and miscarriage.²

Smoking can affect bone health.1,5
Women past childbearing years who smoke have weaker bones than women who never smoked. They are also at greater risk for broken bones.

Smoking affects the health of your teeth and gums and can cause tooth loss.¹

Smoking can increase your risk for cataracts (clouding of the eye's lens that makes it hard for you to see). It can also cause age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD is damage to a small spot near the center of the retina, the part of the eye needed for central vision.¹

Smoking is a cause of type 2 diabetes mellitus and can make it harder to control. The risk of developing diabetes is 30-40% higher for active smokers than nonsmokers.1,2

Smoking causes general adverse effects on the body, including inflammation and decreased immune function.¹

Smoking is a cause of rheumatoid arthritis.¹

Quitting smoking is one of the most important actions people can take to improve their health. This is true regardless of their age or how long they have been smoking. Visit the Benefits of Quitting page for more information about how quitting smoking can improve your health.

1. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.The Health Consequences of Smoking-50 Years of Progress: A Report of the Surgeon General. Atlanta: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health, 2014 [accessed 2017 Apr 20].

2. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. How Tobacco Smoke Causes Disease: What It Means to You. Atlanta: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health, 2010 [accessed 2017 Apr 20].

3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. QuickStats: Number of Deaths from 10 Leading Causes-National Vital Statistics System, United States, 2010. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 2013:62(08);155. [accessed 2017 Apr 20].

4. Mokdad AH, Marks JS, Stroup DF, Gerberding JL. Actual Causes of Death in the United States. JAMA: Journal of the American Medical Association 2004;291(10):1238-45 [cited 2017 Apr 20].

5. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Women and Smoking: A Report of the Surgeon General. Rockville (MD): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Office of the Surgeon General, 2001 [accessed 2017 Apr 20].

6. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Reducing the Health Consequences of Smoking: 25 Years of Progress. A Report of the Surgeon General. Rockville (MD): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health, 1989 [accessed 2017 Apr 20].

Page last reviewed:

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See the data and statistical information on health effects of cigarette smoking.

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1. There is such thing as Vape Culture. Intended for people who use the product.

2. Vape can be flavored like Juuls to have the user enjoy it more.

3. The number of users of vape are expanding so much that there are conventions for vaping (vapefest).

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When you notice someone standing on the street puffing away at their vape pen, do you stop and think for a second and say " Hey that looks cool!" I don't think any of us do. So, when we see celebrities such as Johnny Depp and Katy Perry doing it - maybe some of us start to change our opinions. Do we know any better? Do social influences add pressure to vaping just like there was to smoking?

Social changes to how we perceive vaping are occurring. Frankly, as our understanding of what vaping is becomes clearer, we are starting to put restrictions on who, how and where we can vape. Just like cigarettes. In fact, vaping among teens is becoming a trend, sharing a vape is now like sharing a cigarette - they just pass it around. Some have come to call this "Vape Culture."

The Social Warzone

Social media also plays a big role in everything we do these days - from sharing our best moments in life to potentially causing social problems. In the last few years, vaping itself has grown from just a few hundred people to thousands around the world.

Facebook once had hundreds of vaping groups. As of late, Facebook has been cracking down on various vaping groups; it is almost labeling vaping as something negative. On the other hand, there is a group called CASAA, with over a 1000 members that dedicate themselves to stopping vape bans, educating lawmakers and the general public.

Vaping is Expanding

Have you ever heard of Comic Con and WonderCon? If so, you may be surprised to know vaping has its very own conventions. Vapefest is one of the most popular shows that's held all over, in many cities. Another popular show is known as Electronic Cigarette Convention in the US, where manufacturers and vapers meet. The two biggest cloud chasing competitions in the US are International Cloud Championships held in California, and the World Series of Vape, organized in Las Vegas.

What is vaping exactly? You should get to know the different types of vaporizers before diving deeper into the world of vaping.

For a layperson, we can define vaping as:

The act of inhaling water vapor from an e-cig.

The vapor is the gaseous form of flavored e-liquid - which may or may not contain nicotine. You can find e-liquids in virtually every imaginable flavor and a wide variety of nicotine strengths. Unlike smoke, vapor looks very thick and smells like candy or the flavor it has. But, is it less harmful than smoking? Have we found the perfect and harmless solution for people addicted to nicotine? Let's see.

The debate about if vaping is good or not has gone on since it was first commercialized in the 1980's. Lately, vaping has become quite popular around the world, and a lot of people are turning to vaping as a medium to help them stop smoking. What has been learned so far? There is a lot of debate over the potential that vaping can help someone quit smoking.

A study published in Nicotine and Tobacco Research shows data taken from an ongoing web-based smoking cessation trial. The research consisted of 2,123 people over 3-months, providing follow-up data every 30-days. The results of the test showed that 31.7% of participants reported using a vaporizer to quit in the past three months. One of the most interesting points about the test was that during the follow-up, vaporizer users made more of an effort to quit and took more cessation aids than smokers who did not use vaporizers to quit.

Vaping isn't the magic cure for smoking, even now as more and more research is being done, scientists cannot agree on how to view vaping. In March 2017, The Journal JAMA Cardiology designed a test was to see if vaping would increase your chances of heart disease. The research was performed on 42 participants, 35% women and 35% white males, the average age was 27.6 years of age. Results of the research were heightened levels of adrenaline in the heart, oxidative stress and a harder time for your body to defend against free radicals.

Why are people for vaping, what is the big draw? For starters, vaping is found to be cheaper a habit than smoking. According to Dallas News, a smoker can spend between $1,500 in low-tax states, to about $5,000 in more expensive states. The average pack costs about $13. If you add that up over a year, it works out to $2,250 out of your pocket a year.

When switching to disposable e-cigarettes; they cost about $6-10 each, which works out to between $1,100 to $1,800 a year. Therefore, you are saving multiple hundreds of dollars. Also, when it comes to rechargeable vaporizers with disposable cartridges, your initial purchase will be higher around $10 to $35. In the end, you may pay $2.50 apiece to replace the cartridges, but you have the potential to save up to $1,800 a year.

Another great point that is mentioned by WebMD is:

Vaping offers a potential for smokers to reduce their health risks if electronic cigarettes are used in place of tobacco cigarettes and are considered a step toward ending all tobacco and nicotine use.Thomas Eissenberg, Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond

E-Cigs Less Hazardous than Cigarettes - Policy Statement from the AHA
Published: August 24, 2014
Although the US government and FDA have a negative opinion about e-cigarettes, American Heart Association (AHA) took a different approach in an online 20-page extensive report, although a little cautiously:

E-cigarettes either do not contain or have lower levels of several tobacco-derived harmful and potentially harmful constituents compared with cigarettes and smokeless tobacco... [e-cigarettes] present an opportunity for harm reduction if smokers use them as substitutes for cigarettes.Policy Statement from the AHA

Everything related to vaping isn't a bed of roses. What are the long-term effects? Do you know what chemicals they use in their e-juices? In an article by Project Know, electronic cigarettes still give off carcinogens. If you are not sure what carcinogens are; they increase the chances of you getting cancer.

Also, vaporizers use E-liquids, most of which contain nicotine - nicotine it is an extremely dangerous chemical. Surprisingly, it is more dangerous than tobacco leaves. Nicotine can be fatal; it's noted that a lethal amount is around 40mg for an adult. A report in the Public Health England mentioned that if you were to drink a 10ml bottle of e-juice with nicotine, the effects on your body would be permanent and almost fatal. Finally, using nicotine in any form is still addicting, its major problem is that it leads to addiction habits.
Published February 7, 2017
This is a common concern among many anti-vaping experts. Several pieces of research and studies have been conducted to prove this claim. The opposing group uses the data from CDC which shows that from the year 2011, e-cig use surged about tenfold in 2014 in high school kids. On the flip, the smoking ratio has gone from 15.8% to the lowest-ever 9.2% during the same period.

Although vaping isn't recognized by the FDA as a device to quit smoking, many use it to at least help curb their addiction. In fact, some new trends have formed, like "cloud chasing," "vape events" and "custom vape mods."

One of the biggest trends in the vaping community is "Cloud Chasers," it may sound a little straightforward. Though for those who don't get it, Cloud Chasers is a term which vapers use to describe someone who shoots to create the biggest, thickest vapor clouds. If you are curious about how these vape clouds are made, it is usually done using a VG (vegetable glycerin) juice. These special types of e-juice normally don't have nicotine in them. All in all, the juice is just used to create the largest clouds.

When you're not blasting out large vapor clouds, another pastime of vapor enthusiasts is to mod their favorite vaporizers. Basically, modding your vape means to change it from the stock form into something custom. Some people can go as far as using power tools on their atomizers to add airflow holes or just to customize it to their desired look and feel. As such, one of the most popular customizations that people invest into their vapes is to hire a graphic designer to enhance the look of their vaporizer artistically.

If you're curious about the latest vaping trends, don't forget to check the online vaping communities, check out local vape shops or vape events and meet fellow vapers in your area.

If you're curious about the types of vaporizers out there, here is a quick overview of the different types:

Common Types of Vaporizers

E-Cigs: These are very simple basic devices, usually disposable, that you will see at gas stations. They come prefilled with e-liquid and are ideal for smokers who want to have a feel of vaping.

Vape Pens: Vaporizer pens are slightly bigger and more powerful than e-cigs, and may or may not look like an actual pen. In fact, most new vape pens look like a thumb drive instead.

Vape Mods: These are the most powerful portable vaporizers. They offer an insane amount of vapor and flavor.

Desktop Vaporizers: Are typically very big as well as very expensive but offer the best vaping experience. Desktop vapes are usually used to vape materials other than e-liquids i.e. dry herbs and oils.

There are four types of vapes depending on the material you want:

Vaporizers for E-Liquids: Used for e-liquids, they can range from very small cig-a-likes to very powerful vape mods.

Dry Herb Vaporizer: Are mainly used for cannabis, and mostly used for recreational purposes as well as for medicinal purposes.

Vaporizers for Waxes/Oily Concentrates: Used for waxes as well as concentrates, these are the rather less common type of vaporizers.

Hybrid Vaporizers: Usually, the most expensive type of vapes are the ones that allow you to vape more than one materials.

What do you think about when it comes to how vapers should act in public, is it free game or should the same rules apply to vaping as smoking? Well, according to a survey done by E-Cigarette Direct you shouldn't vape where you wouldn't smoke. Overall, this is the basic rule of thumb.

What are some of the rules? First off, you shouldn't vape indoors that is a big "no-no" for most, and if you can, you should at least seek permission. Second, blowing vapor in people's face is always unacceptable. Stealth vaping is okay, but it is better just to follow the previous notes. Lastly, vaping around children is never recommended, but most think it is okay if respect is taken in regards to location.

Frankly as mentioned before, respecting non-smokers and even a smoker is the key to good etiquette. Just don't be a "vape snob" or leave your equipment unattended. Most importantly, be considerate and use common sense.

To sum up:

Don't vape indoors

Blowing vapor in people's face is a big "no-no"

You should seek permission before vaping in certain locations

Stealth vaping is okay, though it's better to follow previous notes

Vaping around children isn't recommended

Don't be a "vape snob" and think your better

Don't leave your equipment unattended

Use common sense and be considerate

We now know what is banned by society and the vaping community. But, what does the government say? First of all, vaping is slowly getting banned in the US, while in other countries the rules and regulations are either not in place or not very clear. In the US, each state has their rules and regulations; you can take a quick look at the current bans in different states of the US here. On the federal level, the FDA has started treating vaporizers as cigarettes starting August 2016. So far, sales have been banned to minors only, and e-cigs are now subject to regulation under FDCA before they can be imported into the country.

In some countries including Brazil, Seychelles, Singapore, Norway, Uruguay, etc. - e-cigs are banned. Canada has a law that prohibits the sale of any fluids that contain nicotine. However, non-nicotine e-liquids are still sold country-wide, and the law as a whole hasn't been enforced. In the UK, the sale of e-cigarettes is legal to adults only. In 2014, European Parliament passed a law to force the manufacturers to use childproof packaging for e-liquids and disclose the ingredients used.

Also, the regulations can depend on any facility you are in, so it's better to ask around before using you e-cig in a restaurant or any other public place.

Despite the recent roadblocks by the FDA and government to decimate the vaping industry, the industry is growing at a rapid pace. From just a $20 million industry in 2008 to a $2 billion industry in 2016. It's expected to hit $10 billion by the end of 2017.

Source: staticbrain, Wells Fargo

How much will the industry grow? Different pieces of research have a huge variance in their predictions. According to the report " Global Vape Market - Strategic Assessment and Forecast Till 2011 " by Research and Markets, the vaping industry worldwide is expected to cross $32 billion by the year 2021. On the flip, Bloomberg has given a much larger number and predicted that the industry would hit $100 billion by 2020.

Recent acquisitions and technology advancements have put the industry on the right foot. In the US alone, there are more than 5,500 vape shops already, which are small, independent businesses bringing variety to the consumer.

What about our health, isn't this what is up for debate? With all the conflicting reports on how vaping truly affects us it is a hard topic to figure out.

Ask any expert, and they will tell you smoking is extremely dangerous and lethal. However, ask the same question about vaping, and you might get as many answers as the number of people you ask.

There has been some scientific evidence that vaping might have the potential for harm reduction from tobacco cigarettes, but then there are people who have several concerns. In face, this makes answering the question directly nearly impossible - at least at this point. It's just a matter of time before things become clearer as the research is going on at a decent pace.
Published: January 22, 2015
A rather controversial study published in The New England Journal of Medicine claimed that aerosol or vapor produce by e-cigs contains formaldehyde - a known carcinogen. Here's an excerpt from the study:
We have observed that formaldehyde-containing hemiacetals, shown by others to be entities that are detectable by means of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, can be formed during the e-cigarette "vaping" process.
Finally, we need to understand that even the safest foods we eat aren't 100%. You might be surprised to know that coffee contains an addictive stimulant plus 22 known carcinogens. If you care about your health, the only thing you should be inhaling is fresh air. But if you want to know whether vaping is the lesser of the two evils or not, instead of writing a conclusion myself, I'll quote Professor Kevin Fenton (Director of Health and Wellbeing at PHE) narrative:

E-cigarettes are not completely risk-free, but when compared to smoking, evidence shows they carry just a fraction of the harm. The problem is people increasingly think they are at least as harmful and this may be keeping millions of smokers from quitting. Local stop smoking services should look to support e-cigarette users in their journey to quitting completely.Professor Kevin Fenton

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Vaping 101 - History, Benefits, Dangers, Fun Facts, And More

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When you notice someone standing on the street puffing away at their vape pen, do you stop and think for a second and say " Hey that looks cool!" I don't think any of us do. So, when we see celebrities such as Johnny Depp and Katy Perry doing it - maybe some of us start to change our opinions.

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1. When you smoke one Juul pod, you essentially smoke 20 cigarettes worth of nicotine.

2. Most Juuls used have fruity flavors which can lead the user into believing they're not smoking nicotine.

3. About one fifth of middle and high school students had seen Juul use.

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The amount of nicotine in one JUUL cartridge is roughly equal to the amount of nicotine in a pack of cigarettes, or about 200 puffs, according to the product website.

While less toxic than combustible cigarettes, e-cigarettes can make youth more likely to use cigarettes and still contain toxins and the addictive chemical nicotine, which is harmful to adolescent brain development.

JUUL is easy to hide because it looks like a flash drive and can be charged in a USB port. It also does not produce a strong odor.

These characteristics enable discreet use, especially in schools. Almost one-fifth of middle and high school students have seen JUUL used in school, according to an April 2018 Truth Initiative® survey of more than 1,000 youth between 12 and 17 years old.

JUUL comes in a variety of flavors, such as fruit medley, mango, cool cucumber and creme brulee. Flavors in tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, have been proven to appeal to young people. Flavored e-cigarettes are especially dangerous, not only because they attract youth, but because their young users are likely to be misinformed about the harmfulness of the products.

Many youth e-cigarette users incorrectly believe they aren't consuming nicotine when they vape. The majority of youth e-cigarette users think they vaped only flavoring, not nicotine, the last time they used a product, according to an annual national survey of more than 40,000 students from the University of Michigan 2016 Monitoring the Future study.

By law, people under the age of 18 (or 21 in some areas) should not be able to purchase any tobacco products, including JUUL. So, how are so many young people getting their hands on JUUL?

Truth Initiative surveyed a national sample of more than 1,000 12- to 17-year-olds in April 2018 and found that nearly three quarters - 74 percent - of youth said that they obtained JUUL at a store or retail outlet. Just over half - 52 percent - reported that they received JUUL from a social source, such as a friend or family member. Although the internet was not the most common way youth obtained JUUL - only 6 percent reported that they received the product through an online transaction - nearly all youth who tried to buy the product online were successful.

Many companies are producing look-alike products to try to cash in on the profits of the top-selling e-cigarette. There are so many new devices that a social media account dedicated to e-cigarettes and vaping devices, Salt Porn, posted in May, "It feels like there is a new pod system released every day and we receive tons of them ... So many in fact that there is no way we can review them all." These products are not only putting a generation of youth at risk of nicotine addiction, but they appear to be breaking the law.

In recent months, the Food and Drug Administration has taken some actions regarding JUUL, including issuing warning letters to retailers for selling the product to minors. The FDA also asked the maker, JUUL Labs, to turn over documents related to marketing, health effects and use among youth. While these actions are encouraging, problems with tobacco products like JUUL won't be addressed until the FDA fully regulates e-cigarettes and establishes a strong pre-market review process to prevent these kinds of products from being sold in the first place.

Truth Initiative and five other public health and medical groups called on the FDA to take action on JUUL in April. The groups specified five actions, including removing certain JUUL flavors, suspending internet sales and prohibiting branded merchandise.

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The amount of nicotine in one JUUL cartridge is roughly equal to the amount of nicotine in a pack of cigarettes, or about 200 puffs, according to the product website. While less toxic than combustible cigarettes, e-cigarettes can make youth more likely to use cigarettes and still contain toxins and the addictive chemical nicotine, which is harmful to adolescent brain development.

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1. Using E-cigarettes are not any safer than regular cigarettes.

2. The FDA does not approve
E-cigarettes.

3. Using E-cigarettes are not a proven way to quit smoking.

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1. 9 out of 10 smokers start smoking before they are 18. Almost all smokers smoke at age 26.

2.  Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death.

3. When you use a cigarette, the smoke you inhale contains 7,000 chemicals. 70 are proven to cause Cancer.

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Facts about Smoking & Using Tobacco

Today we know a lot about the dangers of smoking thanks to decades years of research about tobacco addiction. Here we've listed some of the major statistics about the effects of smoking and using tobacco. Read them and then judge for yourself.

10 Tobacco and Addiction Facts

On average, the life expectancy of a smoker is 10 years less than a nonsmoker.

Cigarette smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals, 70 of which are known to cause cancer.

Nearly 9 out of 10 smokers start before the age of 18 and almost all start smoking by age 26.

Every day, more than 3,200 children and teens under 18 years old smoke their first cigarette. (There are also 2,100 young adults who turn into daily smokers each day.)

For every person who dies from a smoking-related disease, 20 more people suffer from a smoking-related illness.

Smoking and tobacco use causes more than 5 million deaths per year worldwide. Current trends show that this will increase to more than 8 million deaths annually by 2030.

Smoking is responsible for about 1 in 5 deaths annually in the United States. (That means tobacco causes about 480,000 deaths per year-and 41,000 of those deaths are because of exposure to secondhand smoke).

Smoking causes cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and lung diseases (including emphysema, bronchitis and chronic airway obstruction).

Smokers typically inhale about 1 milligram (mg) of nicotine in a single cigarette.4 For some, that's all it takes to become addicted.

Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death in the world.

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Smoking & Tobacco Facts and Statistics | The CIGNAL

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Today we know a lot about the dangers of smoking thanks to decades years of research about tobacco addiction. Here we've listed some of the major statistics about the effects of smoking and using tobacco. Read them and then judge for yourself. On average, the life expectancy of a smoker is 10 years less than a nonsmoker.