183 



number one prevenuble cause ot death and disability accounting tor 

 approximately 420.000 deaths annually Cigarene smoking: 



Is the leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for 

 approxuTiately 20% of all deaths each year. 



Is the number one cause of lung cancer m the United States, accoummg 

 for an estimated 120.000 deaths annually. 



Is a major cause of respiratory disease, accounting for approximately 

 84.000 deaths each year. 



Is a major cause of cardiovascular disease, accounting for approximately 

 180.000 annual deaths. 



By pregnant women increases the risk of spontaneous abortions, 

 miscarriages, and premature births. Pregnant women who smoke are 

 more likely than nonsmokers to have low birth weight babies -- a leading 

 cause of death and disease among infants. In addition. Sudden Infant 

 Death Syndrome (SEDS) occurs 2 1/2 times more frequently among 

 babies of smoking mothers. 



Is harmful to nonsmokers as well as smokers. Each year. Environmental 

 Tobacco Smoke (ETS) causes 3,000 lung cancer deaths, between 30.000 

 and 40,000 heart disease deaths, and up to 300.000 cases of bronchitis in 

 children. A recent study in the Journal of the American Medical 

 Association (JAMA) found that ETS can affect the fetus of a nonsmoking 

 woman who is regularly exposed to such smoke. 



(See, for example: Reports of the Surgeon General on the Health Consequences 

 of Smoking. 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983. 1984, 1985, 1986. 1987, 1988, 1989, 

 1990, 1991, and 1992.) 



The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has called cigarette smoking the 

 most comicoa example of drug dependence inline United States. The World 

 Health Organization (WHO), the American Psychiatric Association, the Harvard 

 School of Public Health and others have declared tobacco use to be a form of 

 addiction similar to cocaine and heroin. 



Mote importantly, in 1988. the Surgeon General of the United States released a 

 comprehensive scientific report on nicotine addiction concluding that: 



