Tobacco Use in America Increases
Tobacco Use in America Increases
Tobacco was introduced into the American colonies in the early 1600s. The tobacco plant soon became the leading crop and trading commodity in America. Tobacco was widely accepted up until the 1960s when research found that there was health effects directly associated with tobacco use. However, since the 1970s tobacco use has increased dramatically. An increasing amount of tobacco users has caused an increasing number of deaths in America because it has been proven to cause cancer.
In the 1990s there has been a dramatic increase of users, especially teenagers. The tobacco report by Thriveonline.com says “a 15-fold increase in smokeless tobacco has been noted in adolescents aged 17 to 19” (Thrive Online). The United States Department of Health and Human Services says “more than 80% of current adult tobacco users started smoking cigarettes before age 18 years” (CDC Foundation). Most tobacco users are addicted before they reach the age of 21. The tobacco industry focuses their advertisements on teenagers. They spend close to six million dollars a year.
Deaths caused by tobacco use have also increased. Cigarette smoking is the main cause of cancer deaths in America. The American Cancer Society says,
“Lung cancer mortality rates are about 23 times higher for current male smokers and 13 times higher for current female smokers compared to lifelong never-smokers. In addition to being responsible for 87% of lung cancers, smoking is also associated with cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, pancreas, uterine cervix, kidney, and bladder. Smoking accounts for at least 30% of all cancer deaths, is a major cause of heart disease, and is associated with conditions ranging from colds and gastric ulcers to chronic bronchitis,
emphysema, and cerebrovascular disease (related to blood circulation)” (ACS).
There are approximately 400,000 deaths a year caused by smoking tobacco in the United States (Who Smokes?). Statistically men are more prone to using tobacco than women. In the United States the number one cause of death for men is tobacco related illnesses.
One of the main reasons why there is an increase of tobacco users is the fact that they are addictive. Tobacco use is addictive because the chemical nicotine. Cigarettes are especially addictive, the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information states in their article...