Key findings

Prevalence of tobacco use

1. International assessment of tobacco use has been strengthened by advent of new survey initiatives.
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2. Countries are at different stages in the tobacco epidemic.
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3. Smoking rates are often similar for boys and girls.
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4. There are many factors that influence smoking initiation among youth.
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Health effects of regular smoking

1. Tobacco smoking is harmful to health.
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2. Tobacco use causes health problems in adolescents as well as adults.
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3. The deleterious health effects of tobacco smoking are global.
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4. The impact of smoking on lung cancer deaths is particularly striking.
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5. Tobacco-related morbidity and disability results in a large economic burden.
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Tobacco dependence

1. Many smokers become dependent on nicotine, an addictive drug found in all tobacco products.
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2. Adolescent smokers also become dependent on nicotine.
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Environmental tobacco smoke

1. Secondhand smoke is a major cause of disease, including lung cancer and coronary heart disease, in nonsmokers.
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2. Environmental tobacco smoke causes premature death and disease in children and in adults who do not smoke.
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3. Children exposed to environmental tobacco smoke are at an increased risk morbidity and mortality.
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4. There is no risk-free level of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke.
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5. Nonsmokers can be protected by eliminating indoor smoking.
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Benefits of quitting

1. Quitting smoking has substantial and immediate benefits for smokers of all ages.
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2. Mortality is especially reduced by quitting earlier in life.
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