Fifteen of these patients were treated with a total laryngectomy, or had to have their voice box removed. Nationally, smoking results in more than 5 million years of potential life lost each year. Every day, nearly 3,000 young people under the age of 18 become regular smokers. Smokers pay twice as much for life insurance and will die an average of over 12 years sooner than non-smokers. Smokers have more than one chance in 10 of developing lung cancer.
Studies also indicate that nonsmokers are adversely affected by environmental tobacco smoke.
Each year, because of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, an estimated 3,000 nonsmoking Americans die of lung cancer, and 300,000 children suffer from lower respiratory tract infections. Particularly alarming is the fact that more than 3 million young people under age 18 smoke half a billion cigarettes each year and that more than one-half of them consider themselves dependent upon cigarettes. The decision to use tobacco is nearly always made in the teen years, and about one-half of young people usually continue to use tobacco products as adults. Information on cigarette smoking as a cause of cancer.