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A person dies every 10 seconds from tobacco-related causes. ¹
The average smoker begins by age 15, and is a daily smoker by age 18. ²
Each year, more than five million years of life could have been saved if every person who died that year from tobacco use had lived to their average life expectancy. ³
Cigarettes are the most littered item in the world. Cigarette filters are made of cellulose acetate (a plastic), and can take decades to degrade. The toxic residue contained in each littered butt is released into the environment and water supply. Additionally, discarded cigarette butts are a leading cause of forest fires. ⁴
An estimated $853.4 million is spent in Texas each year on marketing efforts by the tobacco industry. ⁵
Nearly every adult who smokes (almost 90 percent) took their first puff at or before the age of 18. ⁵
Smoking costs the U.S. approximately $97.2 billion each year in health-care costs and lost productivity. ⁶
Smoking is directly responsible for 87% of lung cancer cases and causes most cases of emphysema and chronic bronchitis. ⁵
A deadly choice — 22.9% of Texas adults smoke — a choice that kills 24,100 persons every year. ⁵
Every year 56,900 Texas youth (under age 18) become new smokers. ⁵
Approximately one million Texas youth are exposed to secondhand smoke at home. ⁵
Every year, 77.4 million packs of cigarettes are bought or smoked by youth. ⁵
Secondhand smoke has higher concentrations of toxins than inhaled smoke. ¹
Between 1990–1994, cigarette smoking accounted for 2.2 million deaths — an average of 430,700 deaths a year — or 20% of all U.S. deaths. ¹
If current smoking patterns continue, an estimated 25 million people alive today, including five million people currently under age 18, will die prematurely of a smoking-related disease. ¹
Long-term smokers are as likely to die as a direct result of using tobacco as from all other potential causes of death combined. ³
In Texas, the annual health care costs directly caused by smoking is an estimated $4.55 billion. The portion covered by the state Medicaid program, $1.26 billion. ⁵
87% of youth smokers smoke the three most heavily advertised brands – Philip Morris’ Marlboro, Lorillard’s Newport, and R.J. Reynolds’ Camel (55% of youth smokers prefer Marlboro) – compared to less than half of adult smokers who prefer these brands. ⁷
At 30% of the retail price, on average, the U.S. cigarette tax is one of the lowest in the developed world. Increasing tobacco taxes would cut tobacco use. ³
Although it is illegal to sell and distribute tobacco products to youth under age 18, most underage smokers are able to buy tobacco products. ¹
Smoking a pack of cigarettes a day adds up to about 7,500 cigarettes a year. A person with a 20 year habit — 150,000 cigarettes.¹

References
	1	Substance Abuse: The Nations Number One Health Problem
	2	Joe Smooth for President, AdWeek’s Marketing Week, May 1991
	3	Substance Abuse: The Nation’s Number One Health Problem, Feb. 2001
	4	cigarettelitter.org
	5	Campaign For Tobacco-Free Kids
	6	American Lung Association
	7	National Household Survey on Drug Abuse