• Smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke cause more than 480,000 deaths in the US every year.
• Smoking cigarettes increases the risk of at least 12 different cancers.
• In the US, cigarette smoking causes about 3 of every 10 cancer deaths. This number is higher in parts of the South and Appalachia.
• Some groups of people smoke more heavily or at higher rates. These populations tend to be those who face barriers to care and inequities in multiple areas of their lives, including:
  • People at lower socioeconomic levels
  • Those without college degrees
  • American Indians/Alaska natives
  • African American/Black communities
  • LGBTQ+ communities
  • People serving in the military
  • People with mental health conditions

It’s not too late to quit using tobacco. No matter your age or how long you’ve been smoking, quitting improves some aspects of your health immediately and even more over the long term.

Giving up smoking is a difficult journey, but you can increase your chances of success with a good plan and support.”

American Cancer Society (Great American Smokeout | American Cancer Society)