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The leading preventable cause of death in the United States, tobacco results in 440,000 deaths and $75 billion in medical costs each year. |
Focus on Tobacco
Because tobacco use is the single most avoidable cause of disease, disability and death in the United States, helping prevent and reduce tobacco use is a top priority for the CDC Foundation.
The CDC Foundation has a long history of connecting national and community-based organizations with CDC experts and research to identify the most effective strategies to help young people and adults say "no" to tobacco.
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CDC Foundation Receives Grant from Michael Bloomberg's $125 Million Initiative to Promote Freedom from SmokingThe two-year grant to the CDC Foundation will support the WHO’s and CDC’s efforts to design a standard survey protocol to collect data on tobacco use in low- and middle-income countries with the highest smoking rates and to track countries’ progress in implementing tobacco-free programs. |
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CDC Foundation Awards Grants to Counteract Hip Hop Tobacco AdsIn 2004, tobacco companies spent $15.1 billion marketing their products. States spent only $551 million on programs to prevent tobacco use. Six CDC Foundation grant recipients help even the odds by working to prevent smoking among urban youth. |
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State and Community Partnerships to Reduce and Prevent Tobacco UseA CDC Foundation program enabled nine university-based research centers to join with local public health partners to reduce tobacco use in their local communities and to collectively develop national models for tobacco prevention and control programs. |
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National Youth Tobacco SurveyIn 1999, the CDC Foundation combined funding from the American Legacy Foundation and expertise from CDC scientists to organize the first study to gather data about tobacco-related beliefs, attitudes and behavior from both high school and middle school students. |
The Facts about Tobacco Use
An estimated 44.5 million adults in the United States smoke cigarettes even though this single behavior will result in death or disability for half of all continuing smokers. And, despite repeated warnings about lung and other cancers, heart disease and emphysema, each day nearly 4,400 young people between the ages of 12 and 17 start smoking.
Since 1964, 28 Surgeon General’s reports on smoking and health have concluded that tobacco use is the single most avoidable cause of disease, disability and death in the United States. Over the past four decades, cigarette smoking has caused an estimated 12 million deaths, including 4.1 million deaths from cancer, 5.5 million deaths from cardiovascular diseases, 2.1 million deaths from respiratory diseases, and 94,000 infant deaths related to mothers smoking during pregnancy. Coupled with this enormous health toll is the significant economic burden of tobacco use: more than $75 billion per year in medical expenditures and another $92 billion per year resulting from lost productivity.
Related Information:
CDC's Tobacco Information and Prevention Source (TIPS)