>But then, it's not that dangerous as it's cracked up to be. The tobacco industry was comandeering research in its time, now the opposing side is doing the same.
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>Does anyone know where to find the global (or at least USA) statistics on the decline of lung cancer after the smokers have gone extinct (at least on TV)? I've once heard an anti-smoking advocate choke on this question, and eventually say that "there was no research to determine that". What research? Can't anyone look at the statistics?
The WHO estimates the yearly death-toll (World-wide), caused by smoking, at 5 million. They also say that this will increase to 10 million a year (until the year 2020 or so), if nothing is done about it.
I don't know about the U.S., but I think I remember having read something in the sense that the prevalence of smoking World-wide is increasing. I am not sure, though.
Difference in opinions hath cost many millions of lives: for instance, whether flesh be bread, or bread be flesh; whether whistling be a vice or a virtue; whether it be better to kiss a post, or throw it into the fire... (from Gulliver's Travels)