Smokers

Smokers are individuals who regularly inhale smoke from burning tobacco products, most commonly cigarettes, but also cigars, pipes, or other devices. The act of smoking delivers nicotine, an addictive stimulant, and exposes the user to a range of chemicals produced by combustion.

Health effects: Smoking is a major risk factor for cancers, including lung, throat, and mouth cancers, as well as cardiovascular disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It increases all-cause mortality. Secondhand smoke harms non-smokers and is associated with cardiovascular and respiratory illness. Risks rise with the amount smoked and the duration of smoking, and earlier initiation generally leads to greater lifetime exposure.

Prevalence and demographics vary by country and over time. In many regions, smoking rates have declined due to public health measures, while in others the burden remains high. Historically more common among men, smoking rates have shifted with social norms and targeted advertising restrictions. Dependence on nicotine can complicate quit attempts, and many smokers seek help from cessation services or products.

Cessation and policy: Public health efforts include higher tobacco taxes, advertising bans, smoke-free laws, and prominent health warnings. Legal purchase ages and quit-support services aim to reduce initiation and encourage cessation. Treatments such as nicotine replacement therapy, bupropion, and varenicline, often combined with counseling, can improve quit rates. Some smokers turn to vaping, though the health effects of alternative products are debated and vary by product type and use.