What starts out as a simple puff is turning into a death sentence for thousands of women. This Report of the Surgeon General details and outlines hundreds of studies of women and smoking taken over the course of several years. This Report should serve as a wake-up call to a society of smokers who have neglected to fully comprehend the dangers smoking can bring. This is no longer a series of anecdotal stories this is irrefutable proof and hard evidence. I hope that this Report leads to a greater understanding of the dire consequences of smoking.
Smoking is unsafe at any age, in any amount, and for any period.
Our most important tool in stopping the senseless smoking related deaths is a comprehensive approach to prevent smoking among young women combing education, media campaigns, community programs, price increases, and strong policies. The latest reports indicate that nearly 30 percent of high school senior girls have smoked in the past 30 days. And most adult smokers acknowledge that they first tried cigarettes and tobacco products as teenagers. The evidence is strong that if we can keep teenage girls from smoking, there is very little chance they will ever smoke as adults. Smoking is a critical women's health issue that must be addressed on all fronts.