HHS HealthBeat (March 15, 2012)

No kidding with tobacco

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Nicholas Garlow with HHS HealthBeat.

Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Today, 3 million high school students smoke. And 1 in 3 young adults, ages 18 to 26, smokes.

Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin:

“Three out of four teen smokers will continue to smoke well into adulthood.” (5 seconds)

HHS offer tools like smoke free text message programs to help people quit and make sure our youth never start.

“Every day, 1,200 Americans die from cigarette smoking. Each one of those are being replaced by two young smokers.” (8 seconds)

The Surgeon General’s new report explains how smoking can start lung, heart and blood vessel damage early, and that being hooked on nicotine can make it harder to quit, which can make people die before their time.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Nicholas Garlow.

Last revised: March 15, 2012