Written By: Doug Tipperman, Lead Public Health Advisor, SAMHSA 
A recent SAMHSA report indicates that adolescent cigarette use nationwide declined significantly over the past decade.  However, smoking remains the nation’s leading cause of preventable death, responsible for an estimated 443,000 American deaths each year, with 50,000 of these deaths from exposure to secondhand smoke.  One in eleven adolescents in the U.S. report smoking in the past month. In addition, tobacco use takes an enormous toll among people with mental and substance use disorders:

Almost half of tobacco deaths are people with mental and …

A new report released by SAMHSA today shows that the national weighted average rate of illegal tobacco sales to youth is 8.5 percent, the lowest rate reported since the inception of the Synar program. The Synar program requires States to enact and enforce laws restricting the sale of tobacco products to youth. The report also shows that the number of States reporting low rates of illegal tobacco sales to youth has increased. In FY 2011, 34 States achieved a retailer violation rate (RVR) below ten percent and 12 achieved a …

Written By: Doug Tipperman, M.S.W., Center for Substance Abuse Prevention
World No Tobacco Day is observed around the world every year on May 31 to encourage cessation from all forms of tobacco consumption across the globe. The World Health Organization created World No Tobacco Day in 1987. Tobacco use is one of the leading preventable causes of death. Global tobacco use is responsible for nearly 6 million deaths every year, of which more than 600,000 are people exposed to second-hand smoke.
SAMHSA is working to prevent and reduce tobacco use in the …

Written By: Doug Tipperman, M.S.W., Center for Substance Abuse Prevention
Tobacco cessation involves many resources at multiple levels to reach millions of people.  Thus, SAMHSA is pleased to highlight the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout on November 17, 2011, which encourages smokers to use the date to make a plan to quit, or to plan in advance and quit smoking that day. By doing so, smokers will be taking an important step toward a healthier life – one that can lead to reducing cancer risk.
SAMHSA’s eight Strategic Initiatives identify SAMHSA’s …