Smoking is a leading preventable cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Analysis of health and earnings data found that, among U.S adults ages 25 to 79 years, cancer deaths caused by cigarette smoking accounted for 2.2 million person-years of life lost and approximately $21 billion in lost lifetime earnings.
The analysis did not include deaths and lost earnings due to smoking-related cardiovascular diseases, which would greatly increase the estimated burdens. Still, this study puts into stark perspective how important it is for smokers to seek help quitting and for nonsmokers to avoid starting. Keep in mind that a 2019 study found that young people who vaped were four times more likely to go on to smoke traditional cigarettes than their non-vaping peers.