Cigarette smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death and disability in North Carolina and is responsible for 14,200 deaths each year, as well as 30 more people who are sick or live with a disability due to tobacco use (CDC, 2014). Despite a significant decline in the number of people who smoke, 34 million US adults still smoke cigarettes (CDC, 2021). Over 16 million Americans have at least one disease caused by smoking, and 58 million non-smokers are exposed to secondhand smoke (CDC, 2021). About 1,600 young people under 18 years smoke their first cigarette every day, and 235 start smoking daily (CDC,2021). In North Carolina, smoking healthcare costs amount to $3.81 billion, including $931 million in Medicaid and $293 million due to secondhand smoke that could be used for youth prevention and cessation (CDC, 2014). The additional cost of smoking to the NC economy is $4.2 billion in productivity losses each year.

Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, December 28). Extinguishing the Tobacco Epidemic in North Carolina. Smoking & Tobacco Use. https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/stateandcommunity/state-fact-sheets/north-carolina/
Center for Disease Control and Prevention, (2014). Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs. Evidence Based Guides for States. https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/stateandcommunity/best_practices/pdfs/2014/comprehensive.pdf