The Facts Are...

Approximately 53,000 people die from Secondhand smoke each year in the United States.  (American Legacy Foundation)

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African Americans and Smoking

• Each Year, Approximately 45,000 African Americans die from a preventable smoking-related disease.  (CDC)

• In 2000, about 6,000 African American women and 11,000 African American men died of Lung cancer.  Cigarette smoking is overwhelmingly the most important cause of lung cancer.  (American Legacy Foundation)

• In 2000, heart disease killed more than 77,000 African Americans;  40,000 African American women and 36,000 men.  Smoking is a major cause of heart disease.  (American Legacy Foundation)

• More than one of every five adult African Americans is a smoker.  (American Legacy Foundation)

• More than one of every five adult African Americans is a smoker.  (American Legacy Foundation)

• More than one in five African Americans death is attributable to cancer.  (American Legacy Foundation)

• African Americans tend to smoke fewer cigarettes per day and begin smoking later in life than whites, but their smoking-related disease mortality is still significantly higher.  The years of potential life lost before the age of 65 is two (2) times higher in black smokers than white smokers.  (Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids)

• African Americans are more likely to develop and die from cancer than persons of any other racial or ethnic group.  Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in both African American men and women and it kills more African Americans than any other type of cancer.  (Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids)

Women and Smoking

• Each year, tobacco related disease kills more than 178,000 women, making it the largest preventable cause of death among women.  (American Legacy Foundation)

• Women who die of a smoking-related disease lose, on average, 14.5 years of potential life.  (American Legacy Foundation)

• In 2001, approximately 65,000 women died of lung cancer.  Cigarette smoking is overwhelmingly the cause of lung cancer.  (American Legacy Foundation)

• African American women have higher lung cancer death rates than Hispanic, Asian, American and American Indian women.  (American Legacy Foundation)

• One of every five women in the United States is a smoker.  (American Legacy Foundation)

• One in every ten (10) pregnant African-American women reports smoking during pregnancy.  (American Legacy Foundation)

Children and Secondhand Smoke

• Sixty-three percent (63%) of all youth are exposed to ShS at home or in another building at least once a week.  (American Legacy Foundation)

• Forty six percent (46%) of all youth are exposed to ShS in a car at least once a week.  (American Legacy Foundation)

• Children and Adolescents with at least one smoking parent have a 25 to 40% increased risk of chronic respiratory symptoms such as cough, wheeze and breathlessness.  (American Legacy Foundation)