Since 1975, nicotine in the form of cigarettes has consistently been the substance the greatest number of high school students use daily. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC Surveillance Summaries, June 9, 2000. MMWR 49, SS-5, 2000. The impact of nicotine addiction in terms of morbidity, mortality, and economic costs to society is staggering. Tobacco kills more than 430,000 U.S. citizens each year-more than alcohol, cocaine, heroin, homicide, suicide, car accidents, fire, and AIDS combined.
Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States.
The NIH is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services .