Jackson, Miss. — As students return to school and spend more time with peers, it’s important to remind them of the dangers of smoking. Tobacco use usually starts during adolescence; in fact, 90% of adults who smoke cigarettes began the habit by the age of 18, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Youth are more likely to use tobacco products, including vaping, if they see their peers using it, but parental involvement and support lessen those odds.

Despite the Surgeon General’s warnings that smoking causes lung cancer and heart disease, tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of disease and death in the United States. In Mississippi, 5,400 adults die each year from smoking, and 192,000 children are exposed to secondhand smoke at home.

In 2024, 10% o

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