Who is Smoking in the United States?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions article “Smoking and Tobacco Use: Fast Facts,” approximately 46 million American adults smoke, which equals about 20% of the population.
Woman Smoking a Cigarette
The percentages vary by ethnic group, from a high of about 36% in American Indian and Alaska native populations to a low of approximately 10% in Asian Americans. Non-smokers are also affected by smoking through secondhand smoke.
Despite efforts at education, many people become smokers each day. For example, approximately 1,000 people under the age of 18 make the decision to become a smoker while about 1,800 people over 18 make the decision to become a smoker every day.
While 70% of smokers wish they could quit completely, many have a hard time doing so because nicotine is one of the most addictive drugs, according to an American Heart Association article entitled “Nicotine Addiction.” Nicotine withdrawal carries many negative effects, such as irritability, anxiety, problems concentrating, and increased appetite.
How Does Smoking Affect a Person’s Health?
According to the above-mentioned Centers for Disease Control and Preventions article, smoking causes a large number of health problems, including, but not limited to, cancer, heart disease and stroke, and lung disease. Smoking tops the list for preventable causes of death and accounts for 5 million deaths worldwide each year, with an expected increase to 8 million by the year 2030.
In the United States, smoking directly causes about 443,000 deaths per year while approximately 49,000 people die each year due to second-hand smoke. Smokers can expect to shorten their lives an average of 13 to 14 years earlier than non-smokers.
According to an American Heart Association article accessed on June 24, 2010 entitled “Environmental (second-hand) Tobacco Smoke,” no exposure to second-hand smoke is risk-free. People who do not smoke but are exposed to second-hand smoke at home or work have an increased risk for heart disease (25-30% higher), heart attack (200% higher), and lung cancer (20-30% higher) than people in smoke-free environments. Short-term exposure can affect a person’s platelets, which increases the risk for blood clots and thrombosis.
The High Cost of Smoking
Smoking carries many costs, the most obvious being the cost of cigarettes. People who are interested in how much they are spending on cigarettes each year can multiply daily cigarette costs by 365. Another way to determine yearly expenditures on cigarettes is to use a smoking calculator, in which users enter the number of cigarettes smoked per day, price of a pack, and the number of cigarettes per pack.
Because smoking negatively affects health, the addictive habit also increases healthcare costs and work productivity. According to the above CDC article, the United States spends approximately $193 billion each year on cigarette-related healthcare expenses and decreased work productivity with an added $10 billion in healthcare costs related to second-hand smoke.
An interesting twist on the cost of smoking relates to its profitability. According to an April 15, 2010 Corporate Accountability International article entitled “CNN Health- Study: Insurance companies hold billions in fast food stock,” many insurance companies may invest in cigarette company stocks. Perhaps insurance companies find smoking to be profitable in the short term.
Smoking Facts and Figures
Health dangers to smokers and those around them and high costs of the habit do not stop billions of people worldwide from smoking. Most people who smoke would prefer to quit but find it very difficult due to nicotine withdrawal symptoms. Unfortunately, the cigarette industry seems to be quite profitable, and even some companies such as insurance companies are reaping the benefits of a population that smokes.
