Tobacco products killed my father and many individuals that readers of this article loved. I encourage you to donate to Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids –
https://www.tobaccofreekids.org/ – in support of their National Day of Action today, April 1st or on any day in the future. Big Tobacco never gives up on their efforts to sell their products that kill people and make them more money.
Have a healthy and impactful life. Peter Prichard
WEBSITE/BLOG – Have Positive Impact:
“At hundreds of youth-led events across the U.S., people are coming together to stand up to Big Tobacco, expose the tricks they use to lure kids, and call for change.
Tobacco use is still the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Tobacco kills more than 480,000 people annually – more than AIDS, alcohol, car accidents, illegal drugs, murders and suicides combined. Tobacco costs the U.S. over $241 billion in health care expenditures and more than $365 billion in lost productivity each year.
High school students who are current (past month) smokers equals 290,000. High school and middle school students who are current tobacco users (2023) equals 2,800,000. Adults in the U.S. who smoke (2021) equals11.5%
People who die each year from their own cigarette smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke, approx. 480,000. People in the U.S. who currently suffer from smoking-caused illness equals 16 million+.
Smoking kills more people than alcohol, AIDS, car accidents, illegal drugs, murders, and suicides combined, Of all the kids who become new regular, daily smokers each year, almost a third will ultimately die from it. In addition, smokers lose a decade of life because of their smoking.
Total annual public and private health care expenditures caused by smoking: Approximately $241.4 Billion.
Annual tobacco industry spending on marketing its products nationwide: $8.6 billion ($23.5 million each day).
Annual e-cigarette company spending on marketing its products nationwide: $719.9 million.
Research studies have found that kids are three times as sensitive to tobacco advertising than adults; and that a third of underage experimentation with smoking is attributable to tobacco company advertising and promotion.
Tobacco company PAC contributions to federal candidates/parties, 2022 election cycle: More than $1.1 million.
Annual tobacco industry expenditures lobbying Congress in 2022: $45.9 million.”
These figures were last updated Feb. 1, 2024