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Excerpts from US Adults Continue to Use Tobacco Despite Awareness of Health Risks

Reuters [02/07/00]

Although most smokers in the US know that the habit can lead to heart and lung disease, few have been able to quit, according to results of a nationwide poll.

The survey, conducted by New York City-based Harris Interactive, found that of 1,010 adult smokers polled, 89% believe that smoking increases the risk of developing lung cancer, 86% believe that it increases the risk of heart disease and 84% believe that it will shorten their lives.

The results also show that 70% of respondents have tried to quit smoking in the past, four time on average.

"[This poll] confirms...what many of us have already known, and that is that regular tobacco use...is indeed an addiction," Dr. Norman H. Edelman, consultant for scientific affairs for the American Lung Association, said in an interview with Reuters Health. "For many people it is very difficult to give up this addiction despite the fact they know it has serious or even lethal health consequences."