Cigarette smoking and disease in smokers: We agree with the overwhelming medical and scientific consensus that cigarette smoking causes lung cancer, heart disease, emphysema and other serious diseases in smokers. Smokers are far more likely to develop serious diseases, like lung cancer, than non-smokers. There is no "safe" cigarette. These are and have been the messages of public health authorities worldwide. Smokers and potential smokers should rely on these messages in making all smoking-related decisions.

For more detailed information from public health authorities on cigarette smoking and disease in smokers: please click the links on the right. To read highlights and conclusions from the US Surgeon General's reports please follow the links to the year indicated.

Cigarette smoking and addiction: We agree with the overwhelming medical and scientific consensus that cigarette smoking is addictive. It can be very difficult to quit smoking, but this should not deter smokers who want to quit from trying to do so. For more information about quitting smoking please follow the internal links in the right-hand column.

Additional information from public health authorities on cigarette smoking and addiction is available on this page. Here are a few examples:

"The determination that cigarettes and other forms of tobacco are addicting is based on standard criteria used to define drugs as addicting." (US Surgeon General)

"The World Health Organization has classified smoking as an addiction." (World Health Organization)

"...the nicotine in cigarettes and smokeless tobacco causes and sustains addiction." (US Food and Drug Administration)

For more detailed information from public health authorities on cigarette smoking and addiction click the links in the right-hand column.

Our support of consistent public health messages: We support a single, consistent public health message on the role played by cigarette smoking in the development of disease in smokers, and smoking and addiction. This includes our support of legislation that requires cigarette manufacturers to place health warnings on packages and in advertisements, and our belief that governments and public health officials should determine the content of the warning messages.

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