Smoking Facts

In Maryland, an estimated 317,780 women smoke cigarettes.
Smoking rates for women in Maryland by race are: African American 20.5%, Hispanic 18.3%, white 16.9%, and Asian 5.6%.
Research in the past 20 years has consistently shown that cigarette smoking causes skin wrinkling that could make smokers appear less attractive and prematurely old.
According to the Center for Disease Control, African Americans continue to suffer disproportionately from chronic and preventable disease compared with white Americans.
The leading causes of death in African Americans are heart disease, cancer, asthma, and stroke- smoking and other tobacco use are major contributors.
Each year, approximately 45,000 African Americans die from a preventable smoking-related disease.
If current trends continue, an estimated 1.6 million African Americans who are now under the age of 18 years will become regular smokers.
About 500,000 of those smokers will die of a smoking-related disease.
Tobacco use costs the nation a staggering $167 billion in annual health-related economic losses.
Women and Substance Abuse: A New National Focus, an article written by Susan J. Blumenthal, M.D., M.P.A., states that although addictive disorders have been the subject of widespread concern in the United States, relatively little is known about the causes, treatment, and prevention of these disorders in women.
An estimated 200,000 American women will die of substance abuse-related illness this year-more than four times the number who will die of breast cancer (extrapolated from the National Center for Health in prevention studies to stop smoking).
Smoking-related cardiovascular disease is also on the rise among women, as are the other health consequences of smoking, including increases in other types of cancer (larynx, esophagus, cervix, and breast), pulmonary problems, and complications of pregnancy and infant health, osteoporosis, impaired fertility, and earlier onset of menopause (Burns et al. 1997; Office of Research on Women's Health 1992).
A number of studies have suggested that women have less success with smoking cessation efforts than men, possibly because of fear of weight gain associated with smoking cessation, reduced social support for smoking cessation and greater impact of advertising on women.
The American Legacy Foundation reported that each year more than 178,000 women in America die from tobacco-related disease, making it the leading cause of preventable deaths among women in this country.
U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona issued a comprehensive scientific report concludes that there is no risk-free level of exposure to second hand smoke (SHS).
Nonsmokers exposed to SHS at home or work increase their risk of developing heart disease by 25 to 30 percent and lung cancer by 20 to 30 percent. The finding is of major public health concern due to the fact that nearly half of all nonsmoking Americans are still regularly exposed to SHS.
The report, The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke, finds that even brief SHS exposure can cause immediate harm.
According to the National Institutes of Health, January 23, 2004, "Women of Color Data Book", tobacco usage is a powerful addiction. Prevention and Cessation Programs to help minority women especially African American quit tobacco usage can yield significant health and economic benefits.
U.S. Surgeon General Carmona concluded that there is no risk-free level of exposure to second hand smoke. Non-smokers exposed to at home or work increase their risk of developing heart disease by 25-30% and lung cancer by 20-30%.
Tobacco kills African American women more than alcohol, crack cocaine, heroin, suicides, fires, car accidents, and AIDS combined.
Cigarette smoking and being exposed to smoke causes lung cancer.
Children exposed to Secondhand smoke are more likely to suffer respiratory problems, middle ear infections, heart problems or even death during the first year of life.
Children who exposed to cigarette smoke may develop lung problems.
Cancer of the cervix is found more frequently among women who smoke or have partners who smoke.
Smoking can cut off the oxygen forcing your heart to work harder.
Parents, friends, and relatives who smoke around children increase their children's risks of: asthma, colds, ear infections, allergies, and bronchitis, visiting the emergency room, and becoming smokers.
Asthma affects African American children more than any other disease.

The Energy Institute of the Healing Arts Foundation, Inc is dedicated to tobacco control and the
over-all well-being of all populations. Reinforcing the 2006-Clean Air Bill Campaign, an
integrated community effort to prevent and/or reduce second-hand smoke in public places.

U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona who issued a comprehensive scientific report
concludes that there is no risk-free level of exposure to second-hand smoke. Non-smokers
exposed to secondhand smoke at home or work increase their risk of developing heart
disease by 25 to 30 percent and lung cancer by 20 to 30 percent. The finding is of major public
health concern due to the fact that nearly half of all non-smoking Americans are still regularly
exposed to SHS. The report, "The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco
Smoke", finds that even brief SHS exposure can cause immediate harm. The report says the
only way to protect non-smokers from the dangerous chemicals in second-hand smoke is to
eliminate smoking indoors.

"The report is a crucial warning sign to nonsmokers and smokers alike," HHS Secretary
Michael Leavitt said. "Smoking can sicken and kill, and even people who do not smoke can be
harmed by smoke from those who do."

SHS exposure can cause heart disease and lung cancer in nonsmoking adults and is a known
cause of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), respiratory problems, ear infections, and
asthma attacks in infants and children, the report finds.

"The health effects of SHS exposure are more pervasive than we previously thought," said
Surgeon General Carmona, vice admiral of the U.S. Public Health Service. " The scientific
evidence is now indisputable: SHS is not a mere annoyance. It is a serious health hazard that
can lead to disease and premature death in children and non-smoking adults."

Second-hand smoke contains more than 50 cancer-causing chemicals, and is itself a known
human carcinogen. Non-smokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke inhale many of the
same toxins as smokers. Even brief exposure to second-hand smoke has immediate adverse
effects on the cardiovascular system and increases risk for heart disease and lung cancer, the
report says.

In addition, the report notes that because the bodies of infants and children are still developing,
they are especially vulnerable to the poisons in secondhand smoke. "The good news is that,
unlike some public health hazards, SHS exposure is easily prevented," Surgeon General
Carmona said. "Smoke-free indoor environments are proven, simple approaches that prevent
exposure and harm." The report finds that even the most sophisticated ventilation systems
cannot completely eliminate secondhand smoke exposure and that only smoke-free
environments afford full protection.

Matthew Myers of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids said the report "once and for all ends
any scientific debate about whether exposure to secondhand smoke is a cause of serious
diseases like lung cancer and heart disease" and "leads to one inescapable conclusion: Only
comprehensive smoke-free workplace laws can protect all workers and the public from the
serious, proven health risks of second-hand smoke. "Public-health advocates will use this
report in every state and every city and every workplace, restaurant and meeting place that
doesn't already have a comprehensive smoke-free law," predicted Myers. American Medical
Association president-elect Ron Davis called Carmona's report "a wake-up call for lawmakers
to enact comprehensive clean indoor-air laws that prohibit smoking in all indoor public places
and workplaces." Since the 1970s, the non-smokers' rights movement has made significant
progress towards clean indoor air. As of July 1, 2006, there are 2,282 municipalities with laws
in effect that restrict where smoking is allowed.

After years of advocating for a clean indoor air law, Prince George's County, Maryland has now
banned smoking in public places (bars, restaurants). The Prince George's County, Maryland
Clean Indoor Air Ordinance of 2005 (the "Ordinance"), effective January 1, 2006, prohibits
smoking in bars and restaurants. Violators of the law will face fines of up to $1,000 for failing to
enforce it, and patrons could be fined up to $200 per violation. Currently, about 22 million (22%)
women in the United States smoke cigarettes.

Please contact us with any questions, comments or suggestions at comments@eihaf.org

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