A HISTORY OF THE REPORTS
Since 1871, the Surgeon General of the United States
has been the nation's leading spokesman on matters of
public health. Seventeen men and women have served in
this important position. Vice Admiral Richard H. Carmona,
M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.S., was sworn in as Surgeon General
on August 5, 2002.
Since 1964, 27 reports by the U.S. Surgeon General
have kept the American people informed about the dangers
of smoking. The reports have concluded that smoking
is the leading preventable cause of disease and death
in the United States. In the 40 years since the first
report, smoking has killed an estimated 12 million Americans.
While these statistics are alarming, the second significant
conclusion in the most recent report is that quitting
smoking has immediate and long-term benefits to your
health. Find out how to quit smoking:
www.smokefree.gov.
The reports draw their conclusions by analyzing scientific
data gathered from around the world. They establish
connections between the health effects and patterns
of smoking. Many of the reports since 1964 have added
to the list of diseases caused by smoking. There has
never been any reason to reverse an earlier conclusion.