Millions of Americans decide that they can live without the negative effects of tobacco use for one, short 24-hour day and by so doing, not only do they improve their personal health, they earn the respect and gratitude of their friends, family and coworkers. A day without tobacco not only benefits the tobacco user, it also benefits everybody with whom they have contact. If you smoke, chew or use snuff, you not only will die sooner, but you'll be sick far more often than if you didn't use tobacco. Tobacco use is the single most important preventable cause of illness and premature death the United States has ever seen. Each year nearly 400,000 Americans die because of tobacco use - primarily from heart disease, various forms of cancer and strokes.
Tobacco is an addicting drug.
If you smoke or chew, you are an addict. Although cigarette smoking highly addicting, recent research shows that chewing tobacco is the most addicting form of tobacco. Most people who smoke or chew would like to quit. In fact, tobacco is as strong an addicting drug as heroin or alcohol. The difference between the life-expectancy of smokers versus nonsmokers increases dramatically after the age of 45 for both men and women.