Get the facts to understand the burden of tobacco use and exposure in Maine:
Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States.
- There are no safe tobacco products, including combustible, smokeless, or electronic products.
- Smoking harms almost every part of your body and can lead to heart disease, stroke, lung disease, osteoporosis, cancer, and even death. Quitting all tobacco use, including smoking and vaping, is one of the best steps an individual can take for their health.
- Nearly 9 out of 10 cigarette smokers first tried smoking by age 18, and 98% first tried smoking by age 26.
- There is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke, even brief exposure causes damage that can lead to serious disease and death.
- Cigarette smoking is responsible for more than 490,000 deaths per year in the United States, including more than 41,000 deaths as a result of secondhand smoke exposure.
- Annually, smoking-related illness in Maine results in $942 million in direct healthcare costs and $1.5 billion in productivity losses.
Understanding the burden of tobacco use in Maine:
Adult Use
- 6% of Maine adults currently smoke cigarettes.
- 5% of current Maine adults who smoke made a quit attempt in the past year.
- 4% of Maine adults who used any tobacco product (cigarettes, smokeless, e-cigarettes, or other tobacco products).
Youth Use
- 5% of Maine High School students smoked cigarettes in the last month.
- 4% of Maine High School students used an e-cigarette or vape product in the last month.
- 8% of Maine High School students who smoke made a quit attempt in the past year.