Since 1964, 28 Surgeon General Reports have concluded that tobacco use is the single most avoidable cause of disease, disability, and death in America2 Tobacco causes over 440,000 deaths a year in U.S.3 and contributes to a variety of serious health concerns.
Tobacco smoke contains more than 4000 chemicals. At least 250 are toxic and more than 60 are known carcinogens.
Smoking harms nearly every single organ in the body.4 It is very well documented that tobacco use can cause hardening of the arteries, affect the function of the immune system and increase the risk of many forms of cancer.4 In fact, smokers are about 20 times more likely to develop lung cancer than nonsmokers.4 In regard to the lung cancer morbidity rate, smokers make up a staggering 90% of the deaths in men & 80% in women.4 That is a very sobering number.
What most people don’t know is that smoking causes half of all cases of adult periodontitis (gum disease)4 and that several research studies have identified smoking as a risk factor for osteoporosis. 5 Also, men who smoke are about twice as likely to experience Erectile Dysfunction (ED) as non-smokers. 5
Tobacco can also harm the unborn and nonsmokers as well. Babies of mothers who smoked during pregnancy have a lower birth weight on average, which increases the risk for childhood & adult illnesses and reduced lung function.4 Only 20% of women smokers quit when they become pregnant.4 Research suggests that young children that are exposed to Environmental Tobacco Smoke (2nd hand) at an early age are almost twice as likely to develop certain allergies later in childhood/adolescence. 6 These children also become more susceptible to acute respiratory infections, middle ear infections, bronchitis, and asthma. 7, 8
“The weight of the scientific evidence is now more than sufficient to conclude that the relationship between Environmental Tobacco Smoke and heart disease is real”. David Satcher, M.D., Ph.D, Former U.S. Surgeon General under President Clinton
Secondhand smoke(ETS) is a mixture of many chemicals including formaldehyde, cyanide, co2, ammonia, and other toxic chemicals. Many of these are known carcinogens. Nonsmokers exposed to ETS have an increased risk of developing heart disease by 25% to 30% & lung cancer by 20% to 30%. 7,8
A Center for Disease Control (CDC) survey conducted in 2007, revealed that 20% of high school students had used some type of tobacco. Sixteen percent reported being current smokers, & 5% had smoked on school property. 9 Because of budget shortfalls, there has been a large reduction in public school spending and cuts made to various youth & outreach programs. Plus the Governor is raiding the endowment fund that invests the state’s tobacco lawsuit money for future use on children's health and tobacco prevention programs. Very few states are funding tobacco prevention programs at the minimum levels recommended by the CDC. 10 Obviously more funding is needed for prevention programs and to combat the effects of tobacco on our school campuses.
Cigarette smoking accounts for approximately 1 out of every 5 deaths each year. 10 In fact,half of all long-term smokers will die a tobacco-related death. 4 Unfortunately, smokers don’t usually drop dead instantly. Often their health deteriorates over time as they suffer through the devastating effects of chronic lung disease, various cancers, heart disease, etc..., and amass enormous medical bills. That is a lot for a smoker and their loved ones to endure. The financial deficit that is created is also a lot for all Florida taxpayers to endure.
Here are two ways tax dollars are spent that often get overlooked. About 14% of all Medicaid expenditures are for smoking-related illnesses. 10 A lawsuit filed in 2005 by the United Seniors Association against several large tobacco companies estimated that $60 billion had been spent by Medicare on treatment for smoking-related diseases in the previous five years. With the uncertain future of the Medicare program, it doesn’t seem fiscally responsible to spend over $10 billion a year to pay for the long-term consequences of smoking.
Bottom line: The American Lung Association estimates that the number of adult smokers in Florida would drop 4 percent in the first year of a $1 tax increase, and smoking among the state's youth would decrease by 7 percent. Research shows that smoking harms smokers, non-smokers, and innocent children alike. Statistics reveal that tobacco use costs taxpayers millions, even billions of dollars at the federal, state, and local level.
It is time for the financial burden of tobacco habits to be
placed squarely on the shoulders of tobacco users.
If enough voices unite, they will be heard in Tallahassee!
Smoking harms nearly every single organ in the body.
Cigarette smoking accounts for approximately 1 out of every 5 deaths each year.