According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the USA. Each year, more than 480,000 deaths are attributed to cigarette smoking alone. This includes deaths from smoking-related illnesses such as lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, respiratory diseases, and various other cancers.

In addition to deaths directly attributed to smoking, exposure to secondhand smoke also contributes to a significant number of deaths among nonsmokers in the USA. Secondhand smoke exposure is estimated to cause more than 41,000 deaths from heart disease and about 7,300 deaths from lung cancer each year.

When considering all tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, and others, the total number of deaths attributed to tobacco use is even higher. The CDC estimates that more than 540,000 deaths each year in the USA are attributable to tobacco use.

While nicotine itself is not directly responsible for most tobacco-related deaths, it is the addictive component of tobacco products that keeps people using them, leading to long-term health consequences. Nicotine addiction can make it challenging for individuals to quit smoking or using other tobacco products, contributing to the overall toll of tobacco-related disease and death.