Tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of death and disease in the United States and in Rhode Island. Smoking kills more people than alcohol, AIDS, car crashes, illegal drugs, murders, and suicides combined, and thousands more die from other tobacco-related causes, such as fires caused by smoking and smokeless tobacco use. Approximately 480,000 deaths each year are attributed to smoking and other tobacco use in the United States, with 1,800 deaths in Rhode Island. About 3 in 10 cancer deaths in Rhode Island are attributable to smoking. Nationally and locally, tobacco-related disparities exist that negatively impact health equity.
What you can do:
- Reduce your exposure to secondhand smoke. Rhode Island’s smokefree policies may help to protect you from its harms.
- Quit using tobacco and nicotine products. To help you quit successfully, Rhode Island offers two quit support services that are free, confidential, and customized to meet your needs. Rhode Island adults 18+ can visit QuitNowRI.com, and Rhode Island teens ages 13-17 can visit My Life, My Quit.
- Help prevent youth and young adults from using tobacco and nicotine products.
Learn more about organizations that support tobacco-free education, prevention, and policy, such as Tobacco Free Rhode Island.
