Cigarette smoking is the leading contributor to preventable deaths in the United States. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 440,000 deaths in the United States are due to tobacco use each year, with more than 110,000 deaths from cardiovascular diseases alone. Smoking has also been linked to stroke, a leading cause of adult disability. In fact, a report by the United States Surgeon General determined that smoking negatively affects every organ system in the body.

A main constituent of cigarette smoke, nicotine, acts on the body’s central nervous system, requiring only seconds to reach the brain. Its alternate stimulant and calming properties are responsible for the physical and emotional need to continue smoking, and for the challenges associated with withdrawal. As a result, people may continue to experience nicotine cravings for months after they have quit smoking. The power of this smoking addiction helps explain why many people know all the risks of smoking (e.g., heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, emphysema) but still smoke – even after the onset of disease.