The Michigan Department of Community Health encourages smokers to call the Michigan QuitLine at 1-800-480-7848 for help and information on how to successfully quit smoking. In Michigan, there were 14,741 premature deaths due to smoking and about 2,400 deaths due to secondhand smoke in 2004.

"The death of Peter Jennings has focused the spotlight on the devastating consequences of tobacco use," said Michigan Surgeon General Dr. Kimberlydawn Wisdom. "Tobacco use affects us all; which is why we will continue our efforts to support tobacco cessation and encourage all smokers to quit."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, smoking kills an estimated 438,000 Americans each year. On average, smoking reduces adult life expectancy by approximately 14 years. Tobacco use costs Michigan more than $6.8 billion a year in lost productivity and smoking related costs.

“There is no safe cigarette, whether it is called ‘light,’ ultra-light,’ or any other name,” Wisdom said. “The science is clear: the only way to avoid the health hazards of smoking is to quit completely, never start smoking, and avoid exposure to secondhand smoke.”

For free help with quitting, call the Michigan QuitLine at 1-800-480-7848. For more information about cessation materials or prevention programs, call the Michigan Health Promotions Clearinghouse at 1-800-537-5666 or go to www.michigan.gov/tobacco.

Related materials are also available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Office on Smoking and Health, at 1-800-CDC-1311 or online at www.cdc.gov/tobacco.