2012 U.S. Surgeon General's Report

In December 2012, the U.S. Surgeon General published the report, "Preventing Tobacco Use Among Youth and Young Adults. Read the Surgeon General's Report, Fact Sheet, and press release: http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/reports/preventing-youth-tobacco-use/index.html, or Lea la version en español que la Cirujana General report.

The Report notes that reductions in youth and adult smoking rates have stalled over the last few years, and research shows that keeping youth from starting smoking before age 26 is effective in keeping them from becoming addicted to nicotine and smoking. Kathleen Sebelius, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, points out:

"Each day in the United States, over 3,800 young people under 18 years of age smoke their first cigarette, and over 1,000 youth under age 18 become daily cigarette smokers. The vast majority of Americans who begin daily smoking during adolescence are addicted to nicotine by young adulthood."

Key findings and recommendations from the 2012 Report:

If you're a smoker or tobacco user, or want to help someone quit tobacco, find resources on GASP's webpage NJ Cessation Resources.

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Last update: 1/22/14