WASHINGTON — One in 13 children could see their lives shortened by smoking unless the nation takes more aggressive action to end the tobacco epidemic, the U.S. Surgeon General said Friday.
“Enough is enough,” said acting Surgeon General Borish Lushniak at a White House ceremony unveiling the 980-page report.
About 18 percent of adults smoke today, down from more than 42 percent in 1964. Nearly half a million people will die from smoking-related diseases this year.
Each day, more than 3,200 youths smoke their first cigarette. If trends continue, 5.6 million of today’s children and teens will go on to die prematurely during adulthood because of smoking, the report says.
The report Friday adds more entries to the official list of smoking-caused diseases: Type 2 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, erectile dysfunction, the macular degeneration, and the birth defects cleft palate and cleft lip.
