American Cancer Society

www.cancer.org  The American Cancer Society’s website. Live Free Smoke-Free is their motto. Included are testimonies from people who are ashamed at being smokers or who have planned a day to quit. These people are frustrated at being dependent. They provide resources such as Colleges against Cancer and the Great American Smokeout. They emphasize that smoking is the most preventable cause of death in our society. Quitting at any age will improve your chances at living longer. Former smokers live longer than continuing smokers. They offer a toll free Quit line with optional counseling @1-877-724-1090

Facts: Smoking and Tobacco use are acquired behavior. Smoking accounts for 30% of all cancer deaths and about 87% of lung cancer deaths.There is NO evidence that low tar improves the health risk. Smoking contributes to the severity of pneumonia and asthma and agravates chronic bronchitis.

70% want to quit, 35% attempt to quit and fewer than 5% succeed. The CDC (center for disease control) estimates a 13 yr. average loss of life from smoking.

22.5% of all adults smoke, but an alarming 29% of teens and young adults smoke. The earlier the onset of smoking, the more severe the damage becomes to body organs. Nearly 1 in 4 people smoke in America.

American Indians 40.8%, whites 22.4% and African Americans 23.6% top the list of smokers. Asians are the least likely to smoke.