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Tobacco  Talking  Points

Each day in the United States, approximately 4,000 adolescents aged 12-17 try their first cigarette (source: Centers for Disease Control).

Children and teenagers constitute the majority of all new smokers, and the industry’s advertising and promotion campaigns often have special appeal to these young people. Eighty-three percent of young smokers (aged 12-17) choose the three most heavily advertised brands (source: Centers for Disease Control).

Over 6 million young Americans are exposed to secondhand smoke daily (source: centers for Disease Control).

World-wide, 10 million cigarettes are purchased every minute (source: About.com).

40-60% of smokeless tobacco (chewing tobacco and snuff) users exhibit leukoplakia (pre-cancerous sores) in the area where the tobacco is held, usually within a few months of beginning regular use. Between 25 and 6 % of the leukoplakia become malignant cancers (source: University of Minnesota/Division of Periodontology).

Tobacco Tutorial: Page 21 of 21