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The Human Side of the Master Settlement Agreement
There has been a tremendous amount
of attention directed to the financial aspects
of this agreement. Most New Mexicans perceive the tobacco industry will pay the state
approximately $1.2 billion over 25 years. We hear little about the human issues associated
with the agreement.
| I have
often wondered how many people died as a result of the fact that medical and public
health professionals were misled by the tobacco industry... (C. Everett Koop)
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Historical Perspective
Since 1964, when U.S. Surgeon General Luther Terry officially announced tobacco was hazardous
to health, we estimate there have been a minimum of 15 million deaths due to tobacco-related
illnesses and disease.
Current Perspective
Today, one American dies every minute due to illnesses attributable to smoking, tobacco use or
second-hand smoke from cigarettes.
This means we lose approximately 1,370 Americans each day from
smoking-related causes. We are fully aware that smoking kills more
Americans than AIDS, alcohol, car accidents, murders, suicides, illegal
drugs and fires combined. The use of tobacco products is our nation's
deadliest addiction.
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The Future
Each day, 3,000 young people begin smoking. The majority of these new tobacco industry recruits
(89%) are under the legal smoking age of 18. One-third will eventually die from illnesses and disease
arising from their addiction to smoking.
Based on current smoking trends,
through the first 25
years of the tobacco settlement, an estimated 12,500,000 Americans will die from smoking-related illnesses and
disease.
Closer to home, an estimated 75,000 New Mexicans will die prematurely from smoking-related
illnesses and disease by the 25th year of the tobacco settlement.
It is inconceivable we tolerate the political and social policies related to tobacco use, smoking
and second-hand smoke.
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