Tobacco Free Jefferson

The Facts: The Numbers really do begin to add up

Statistics can seem pretty lame. Especially when they don’t have anything to do with you. Or do they?
For better or for worse, the things you do now affect you down the road of life. Even the littlest thing – like smoking cigarettes or chewing tobacco – can keep you from realizing your dreams.
Don’t believe us? Let the numbers speak for themselves. Studies have proven that addiction to nicotine (the reason you smoke, chew, or dip in the first place) can profoundly affect your health, your appearance, the health of those you love the most and ultimately, how long you live.
It’s your choice, of course. Just make sure it’s an informed choice.

The Facts:

In Florida, smoking kills more people than alcohol, AIDS, car crashes, illegal drugs, murders, and suicides combined
Each year in Florida 26,300 kids under 18 become new daily smokers
28.8 million packs of cigarettes are bought or smoked by kids each year in Florida
Nearly one out of every five adults in Florida smokes
Young adults (18 to 24) smoke at higher levels than any other age group
15.5% of high school students smoke on a daily basis
369,000 kids now under 18 and alive in Florida who will ultimately die prematurely from smoking
28,700 adults in Florida die each year from their own smoking
In 2007, 14.7% high school students and 6.1% among middle school reported they had smoked cigarettes once in the past 30 days.
692,000 kids in Florida are exposed to secondhand smoke at home.
Approximately 3 million of adults in Florida smoke, or 21% of the state’s population
About 88 Floridians are estimated to die daily of tobacco use.