Lung Facts Lung disease is the third leading cause of death in America. Every year more than 430,000 Americans die from smoking-related illnesses.
Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable disease in the United States.
Smoking kills more Americans annually than alcohol, cocaine, crack, heroin, homicide, suicide, car accidents, fires and AIDS combined. West Virginia's youth smoking rate is one of the highest in the nation. About 42 percent of the state's youth smoke compared to about 26 percent of adults. One in five deaths in West Virginia is related to smoking. West Virginia has the nation's fourth highest rate of smoking-related deaths.