nicotine, an ingredient of tobacco, is listed as an addictive substance by the us authorities.
although the health risks of smoking are culmulative, giving up can yield health benefits regardless of the age of the patient, or the length of time they have been smoking.
future impact
by 2020, the who expects the worldwide death toll to reach 10 million, causing 17.7% of all deaths in developed countries.
there are believed to be 1.1 billion smokers in the world, 800 million of them in developing countries.