The Toll of Tobacco in New Mexico | Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
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The Toll of Tobacco in New Mexico
High school students who smoke3.7% (4,200)
High school students who use e-cigarettes25.4%
Male high school students who smoke cigars (female use much lower)2.9%
Kids (under 18) who try cigarettes for the first time each year3,500
Adults in New Mexico who smoke15.0% (248,000)
Deaths in New Mexico from Smoking
Adults who die each year from their own smoking2,600
Proportion of cancer deaths in New Mexico attributable to smoking23.6%

Smoking kills more people than alcohol, AIDS, car crashes, illegal drugs, murders, and suicides combined — and thousands more die from other tobacco-related causes — such as fires caused by smoking (more than 1,000 deaths/year nationwide) and smokeless tobacco use.

 

Smoking-Caused Monetary Costs in New Mexico
Annual health care costs in New Mexico directly caused by smoking$981 million
Medicaid costs caused by smoking in New Mexico$239.5 million
Residents' state & federal tax burden from smoking-caused government expenditures$1,125 per household
Smoking-caused productivity losses in New Mexico$1.5 billion

Amounts do not include health costs caused by exposure to secondhand smoke, smoking-caused fires, or use of non-cigarette tobacco products. Productivity losses are from smoking-caused premature death and illness that prevent people from working. Tobacco use also imposes costs such as damage to property.

 

Tobacco Industry Influence in New Mexico
Annual tobacco industry marketing expenditures nationwide$8.6 billion
Estimated portion spent for New Mexico marketing each year$33.4 million

Published research studies have found that kids are twice as sensitive to tobacco advertising as adults and are more likely to be influenced to smoke by cigarette marketing than by peer pressure. One-third of underage experimentation with smoking is attributable to tobacco company advertising.

View sources of information.

More detailed fact sheets on tobacco's toll in each state are available by emailing factsheets@tobaccofreekids.org

Last updated Aug. 16, 2024