Monday, March 12, 2012

Youth smoking

On Thursday, the Surgeon General today released the report Preventing Tobacco Use Among Youth and Young Adults, which details the scope, health consequences, and influences that lead to youth tobacco use and proven strategies that prevent its use.

The Surgeon General also unveiled a guide with practical information on addressing tobacco use in young people, Preventing Tobacco Use Among Youth and Young Adults: We Can Make the Next Generation Tobacco-Free.

Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable and premature death, killing more than 1,200 Americans every day.  For every tobacco-related death, two new young people under the age of 26 become regular smokers.  Nearly 90 percent of these replacement smokers try their first cigarette by age 18.  Approximately 3 out of 4 high school smokers continue to smoke well into adulthood.

For more information, visit http://go.usa.gov/PB3

Copies of the full Report, executive summary, and the easy-to-read guide may be downloaded at http://www.surgeongeneral.gov. To order printed copies of these documents go to http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco and click on the Publications Catalog link under Tools & Resources.

For access to quitting resources visit www.tobaccofreemaine.org or www.smokefree.gov