A study estimates that unless teen smoking rates are cut immediately, more than 5 million young people under age 18 who are alive today will die from a smoking-related disease. These deaths could result in almost $200 billion in future health care costs and about 64 million years of life lost for the youth of this nation. The study also found

• More than 5 million children living today will die prematurely because of a decision they will make as adolescents--the decision to smoke cigarettes.
• One out of three young people (32 percent) who become regular smokers will die of a smoking-related disease.
• More than half (55 percent) of smokers continue to smoke up to one year before their death.

1. Rates are per 100,000 population.

Resource: CDC.