The Marlboro Man dies from smoking ; new report on smoking still an epidemic . 44 million Americans smoke , and a third of all are deaths caused by tobacco use . President : Fifty years after the country 's top health official confirmed that smoking causes death , the industry will finally be compelled to level with the American people about the harm its products cause . We ' ve come a long way but smoking will kill nearly half a million people in U.S. this year . Tobacco use is the most preventable cause of death , and we need to redouble efforts .
The Marlboro Man dies from smoking ; new report on smoking still an epidemic . 44 million Americans smoke , and a third of all are deaths caused by tobacco use . President : We ' ve come a long way but smoking will kill nearly half a million people in U.S. this year . Tobacco use is the most preventable cause of death , and we need to redouble efforts .