The use of tobacco products is a major public health concern in New Jersey. Health consequences of smoking include damage to the lungs and other organs, addiction to nicotine, and the associated risk of other drug use. Most young people who smoke regularly continue to smoke throughout adulthood.
Studies show that early signs of heart disease and stroke can be found in adolescents who smoke.
Cigarettes kill more Americans than AIDS, alcohol, auto accidents, homicides, suicides, drugs, and fires combined. Nationwide, more than 3,000 children start smoking every day, resulting in more than 1,000,000 new smokers each year. Smoking kills more than 12,600 New Jerseyans each year. In New Jersey, the average age of first use of tobacco is 11 years old. Many factors interact to encourage cigarette smoking among youth, including smoking by peers and family members, tobacco advertising and promotion and easy availability of tobacco products.