The human tragedy of smoking-related disease is enormous.
Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of premature death in the United States.
The number of deaths from tobacco related illnesses exceeds the combined deaths caused by automobile accidents, AIDS, alcohol use, use of illegal drugs, homicide, suicide and fires. Smoking-related illnesses account for one of every five deaths each year in the United States. At least 43 separate chemicals in the smoke inhaled by persons consuming tobacco products have been determined to be carcinogenic. Smoking also causes cancers of the mouth, larynx, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, uterus, cervix, kidney, and colon, among others. Smokeless tobacco, including snuff and chewing tobacco, has been shown to cause oral cancer, gum disease and tooth loss.