Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the United States, killing more than 480,000 Americans each year. Smoking causes immediate damage to your body, which can lead to long-term health problems. For every smoking-related death, at least 30 Americans live with a smoking-related illness. The only proven strategy to protect yourself from harm is to never smoke, and if you do smoke or use tobacco products, to quit. 

Fast Facts

  • Smoking leads to disease and disability and harms nearly every organ.
  • Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death.
  • The tobacco industry spends billions of dollars each year on cigarette advertising and promotions.
  • Smoking costs the United States billions of dollars each year.
  • State spending on tobacco prevention and control does not meet CDC-recommended levels.
  • 15.1% of all adults (36.5 million people): 16.7% of males, 13.6% of females were current cigarette smokers in 2015.
  • Thousands of young people start smoking cigarettes every day.
  • Many adult cigarette smokers want to quit smoking.

More Facts and References

Ready to Quit?

It's never too late to quit smoking. Quitting smoking now improves your health and reduces your risk of heart disease, cancer, lung disease, and other smoking-related illnesses.

  • Make a Quit Plan: One of the keys to a successful quit plan is preparation. A great way to prepare to quit smoking is to create a quite plan. 
  • Manage Your Cravings: When a craving is triggered, it's important to have a plan to beat that urge to smoke.
  • Find Social Support: Find and share your motivation to quit smoking on CDCTobaccoFree. Social support can help you beat nicotine addiction and live a smokefree life.
  • Sign Up for Free Texts: Free 24/7 quit help texted to your phone! Text QUIT to 47848, answer a few questions, and you'll start receiving messages.

More about Quitting

Electronic Cigarettes

  • E-cigarettes have the potential to benefit adult smokers who are not pregnant if used as a complete substitute for regular cigarettes and other smoked tobacco products.
  • E-cigarettes are not safe for youth, young adults, pregnant women, or adults who do not currently use tobacco products.
  • While e-cigarettes have the potential to benefit some people and harm others, scientists still have a lot to learn about whether e-cigarettes are effective for quitting smoking.
  • If you’ve never smoked or used other tobacco products or e-cigarettes, don’t start.
  • Additional research can help understand long-term health effects.

 More about e-cigarettes

Smokeless Tobacco

Smokeless tobacco is a significant health risk and is not a safe substitute for smoking cigarettes. Smokeless tobacco contains 28 cancer-causing agents (carcinogens). Smokeless tobacco use can lead to nicotine addiction and dependence. Adolescents who use smokeless tobacco are more likely to become cigarette smokers.

More about Smokeless Tobacco