This represents great progress for African-American teenagers from 1976 when the survey found that 26.8 percent of them were smokers. At that time, 28.8 percent of white teenagers smoked one or more cigarettes a day in the 30 days before being interviewed. In 1991, 29.2 percent of African-American adults smoked, compared to 25.5 percent of white adults. The CDC also reports that African-Americans are more likely to try to quit smoking, but are less likely than white smokers to be successful. Each year more Americans die from diseases caused by smoking than from auto accidents, AIDS, homicide, cocaine, heroin and other drugs put together.
Tobacco also contributes to higher rates of low birthweight and infant deaths.
When a pregnant woman smokes or is around someone who smokes, her baby is more likely to be sickly. Young children are also more likely to have colds, ear infections and lung problems if they are exposed to secondhand smoke, The New York State Health Department offers tips that can help smokers break the addiction. Send us your comments and suggestions for adding useful information to this site. Send us your comments and suggestions for adding useful information to this site. Weekdays 8am to 8pm.