May. Watson said that these local activities were planned to spotlight local efforts to prevent children and teens from ever starting to use tobacco products. We are anxious to see the results of the Youth Tobacco Survey to see how our county compares with the state. Survey data was collected from students from 41 middle schools and 49 high schools throughout the state who responded to a 70-question survey on tobacco use. LeBailly said that 193,000 Colorado children are exposed to environmental tobacco smoke in their homes each year, and20,000 Colorado youth under 18 years of age become regular smokers each year. An estimated 435,000 Americans die from tobacco-related diseases each year.
Tobacco use is epidemic.
Tobacco use is the number one public health problem in the nation and in Colorado. In Colorado, approximately 916,000 people smoke, with steady increases among young adults aged 18 to 24 years from 1991 to 1997. Our children are at risk and addicted. Smoking or exposure to environmental tobacco smoke during pregnancy can result in low birth weight infants, and Colorado has one of the highest low birth weight rates in the country. Tobacco use among high school seniors is at a 19-year high.