Smoking costs the world $1.4 trillion annually in healthcare and lost productivity.[1]
You're not just quitting for yourself—you're joining a global movement. Every person who quits saves lives, money, and the planet.
"Smoking is killing 8 million people per year worldwide.[2] That's a 9/11 every single day. We can stop this together."
Bob, Your Global Mascot
On a mission to quit smoking world wide
The 21-Day Quit Smoking Breakthrough is a structured experience with weekly group sessions and mind-based behavioral support.
No willpower battles. No white-knuckling. We change the subconscious programming that makes you want to smoke.
Weekly group sessions, proven techniques, and a community that understands—worldwide.
This isn't another "quit or fail" program. It's a supportive, judgment-free journey that works with your brain, not against it.
Smoking is one of the largest preventable causes of death in the world.
Bob knows you've heard this before. But here's what the numbers actually mean.
people die every year due to smoking.[2]
This includes:
Bob did the math. Based on 8,000,000 deaths per year:[2]
Over 22,000 people die every day worldwide due to smoking.[2]
These deaths are preventable.
Most occur after years of repeated attempts to quit.
≈ 1.25 billion people worldwide currently smoke.[4]
Hundreds of millions are living with:
Most are not dying yet—but they are stuck.
Bob's going to be honest with you: Smoking is often called a habit, but for most people it's a conditioned nervous-system response—not a willpower issue.
Most smokers:
Bob says: They are not weak. They are responding to subconscious and nervous-system conditioning.
That's what this program addresses.
All statistics on this page are sourced from the World Health Organization (WHO), CDC, and other authoritative global health organizations. View complete sources and references →
While 8 million people die from smoking each year,[1] hundreds of millions more are living with serious smoking-related illnesses right now.[13] That means real people—parents, grandparents, friends—living in pain, disability, and suffering every single day because of cigarettes.
While 8 million die each year, over 346 million people are currently living with smoking-caused COPD—and that's just one disease. Add heart disease, cancer survivors, amputations, and other conditions, and hundreds of millions more are suffering because of cigarettes. They wake up every day struggling to breathe, losing limbs, going blind, or battling chronic pain.[13][14][15]
384 million sufferers worldwide[15]
• Gasping for air with every breath
• Unable to climb stairs or walk short distances
• Constant coughing and wheezing
• Tethered to oxygen tanks 24/7
• 90% caused by smoking[15]
• Heart attacks and strokes at young ages
• Damaged blood vessels throughout body
• Chronic chest pain (angina)
• Blood clots and circulation problems
• Living in fear of "the big one"
30% of all cancers caused by smoking[17]
• Removed tongues, jaws, and vocal cords
• Speaking through voice boxes
• Disfiguring facial surgeries
• Years of painful chemotherapy
• Living with constant fear of recurrence
Smokers 4x more likely to lose limbs[18]
• Toes turn black and fall off
• Feet amputated, then legs
• Excruciating pain from dying tissue
• Lost independence and mobility
• Wheelchair-bound in prime of life
• Macular degeneration (irreversible)
• Cataracts at younger ages
• Diabetic retinopathy (smoking worsens diabetes)
• Unable to see grandchildren's faces
• Lost ability to drive, read, work
Impacts both men and women[20]
• Erectile dysfunction in men
• Reduced fertility in both sexes
• Pregnancy complications and miscarriages
• Low birth weight and premature babies
• Infant death and developmental issues
Bob says: "Everyone talks about the 8 million who die. Nobody talks about the hundreds of millions who wish they could. I've seen people who can't walk to their mailbox without stopping to catch their breath. I've seen 40-year-olds with amputated legs. I've seen parents who can't play with their kids because they're too sick."
The tobacco industry loves that you only think about death. Because if you knew what it's actually like to live with COPD—waking up every morning drowning in your own lungs—you'd never touch another cigarette. If you saw what it's like for a 50-year-old to lose both legs to peripheral artery disease, you wouldn't just quit. You'd be angry.
Here's the part they don't tell you: most smokers don't die quickly. They suffer for decades. The average COPD patient lives 10+ years after diagnosis, each year worse than the last.[21] That's 10+ years of drowning slowly, of being trapped in a body that doesn't work, of watching your family watch you suffer.
Americans living with smoking-caused disease[22]
For every death, 30 people suffer with disease[13]
Annual healthcare costs for treating smoking diseases[1]
Of smokers want to quit but feel trapped[23]
Within 20 minutes of quitting: Heart rate drops to normal levels[24]
Within 2-12 weeks: Circulation improves and lung function increases up to 30%[24]
Within 1 year: Heart disease risk drops by 50%[24]
Within 5-10 years: Stroke risk reduced to that of a non-smoker[24]
The best time to quit was yesterday. The second best time is right now.
[1] CDC. "Smoking-Attributable Morbidity, Mortality, and Economic Costs (SAMMEC)." CDC Health Effects Data →
[13] CDC. "Smoking-Attributable Morbidity, Mortality, and Economic Costs (SAMMEC)." CDC Health Effects Data →
[14] WHO. "Tobacco: Global burden of disease." WHO Global Disease Burden →
[15] WHO. "Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)." WHO COPD Facts →
[16] American Heart Association. "Smoking and Cardiovascular Disease." AHA Smoking Data →
[17] American Cancer Society. "Tobacco and Cancer." ACS Cancer Data →
[18] NIH. "Peripheral Artery Disease and Smoking." NIH PAD Information →
[19] National Eye Institute. "Smoking and Eye Disease." NEI Vision Research →
[20] CDC. "Smoking and Reproductive Health." CDC Reproductive Effects →
[21] European Respiratory Journal. "Life expectancy in COPD patients." ERJ COPD Research →
[22] CDC. "Smoking-Related Disease Statistics." CDC Disease Statistics →
[23] CDC. "Quitting Smoking Among Adults." CDC Cessation Data →
[24] American Lung Association. "Benefits of Quitting Smoking Timeline." ALA Quit Benefits →
These aren't scare tactics. These are facts from WHO, CDC, and global health organizations. The world is literally burning $1.4 trillion per year.[1] Time to quit smoking worldwide.
Smoking worldwide kills more people than HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria combined.[2] 8 million lives lost annually. 1.2 million from secondhand smoke alone.[3]
That's 22,000 deaths every single day.[2]
1.3 billion people smoke worldwide.[4] 80% live in low- and middle-income countries.[5] Tobacco companies target the most vulnerable populations globally.
You're not alone. We can quit together.
Of all smokers die from smoking-related diseases
Of global deaths are caused by tobacco worldwide
Direct healthcare costs globally per year
Higher healthcare costs for smokers vs non-smokers
Bob says: "Let's do some uncomfortable math. 8 million people die from smoking every year worldwide.[2] That's 22,000 people every day. While you've been reading this page, about 15 people just died from smoking-related diseases."
$1.4 trillion spent annually on smoking worldwide isn't just a number[1]—it's hospitals overwhelmed with preventable disease, families destroyed by early death, and economies crippled by lost productivity. Developing nations spend more on tobacco-related healthcare than they receive in foreign aid.[9]
The tobacco industry makes $35 billion in profits[10] while costing the world $1.4 trillion in damage. They're not in the business of your health—they're in the business of addiction. Quit smoking worldwide is about taking back power from an industry that profits from death.
All statistics on this page are sourced from authoritative global health organizations and peer-reviewed research.
[1]
Economic costs of tobacco: World Health
Organization. "Tobacco control can save billions of dollars and
millions of lives."
WHO Economic Impact Report →
Smoking costs the global economy more than US$ 1 trillion
annually in healthcare expenditures and lost productivity.
Source: WHO report citing Goodchild et al. study published in
Tobacco Control.
[2]
Global death toll: World Health Organization
(WHO). "Tobacco kills more than 8 million people each year."
WHO Tobacco Deaths Data →
More than 8 million deaths annually worldwide, including
deaths from HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria comparison.
[3]
Secondhand smoke deaths: World Health
Organization (WHO). "Second-hand smoke kills."
WHO Secondhand Smoke Facts →
Around 1.2 million deaths per year are due to non-smokers
being exposed to second-hand smoke.
[4]
Global tobacco users: World Health Organization
(WHO). "Tobacco Fact Sheet."
WHO Tobacco Facts →
There are 1.25 billion tobacco users worldwide. Around 80% of
the world's tobacco users live in low- and middle-income
countries.
[5]
Low and middle-income countries: World Health
Organization (WHO). "Tobacco control in developing countries."
WHO Developing Nations Data →
About 80% of the world's tobacco users live in low- and
middle-income countries.
[6]
Mortality rate among smokers: World Health
Organization (WHO). "Tobacco Fact Sheet."
WHO Tobacco Facts →
Tobacco kills up to half of its users. More than 8 million
people die from tobacco use each year.
[7]
Percentage of global deaths: World Health
Organization (WHO). "Tobacco Fact Sheet."
WHO Tobacco Facts →
Tobacco kills more than 8 million people each year, including
an estimated 1.2 million deaths from exposure to second-hand
smoke. This represents a significant portion of global
mortality.
[8]
Healthcare costs comparison: American Lung
Association. "Overall Tobacco Trends."
American Lung Association Data →
Smokers have significantly higher healthcare costs (up to 7
times higher) compared to non-smokers.
[9]
Developing nations healthcare burden: World
Health Organization. "Tobacco and its environmental impact: an
overview."
WHO Tobacco Environmental Impact →
Tobacco use imposes substantial economic costs on countries,
particularly low- and middle-income countries where tobacco
use is most prevalent.
[10]
Tobacco industry profits: World Health
Organization. "Tobacco Fact Sheet."
WHO Tobacco Industry Info →
The tobacco industry continues to make substantial profits
while tobacco use kills more than 8 million people annually
and costs the global economy over $1 trillion.
[11]
Cost savings from quitting: American Lung
Association. "Benefits of Quitting Smoking Over Time."
Lung Association Quit Benefits →
Quitting smoking saves significant money annually (varies by
location and smoking habits), along with major health
benefits.
[12]
Life expectancy increase: Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC). "Benefits of Quitting."
CDC Quitting Benefits →
Quitting smoking significantly increases life expectancy at
any age. The earlier you quit, the greater the benefit.
[13]
UK smoking costs: Action on Smoking and Health
(ASH). "Smoking Statistics: Costs."
ASH UK Statistics →
Based on average UK cigarette prices and pack-a-day smoking
habits. Costs vary by region and consumption.
[14]
UK smoker population: Office for National
Statistics (ONS). "Adult smoking habits in the UK."
ONS Smoking Data →
Current UK adult smokers based on latest Office for National
Statistics survey data.
[15]
UK smoking deaths: Action on Smoking and Health
(ASH). "Health Risks of Smoking."
ASH Health Data →
Approximately 78,000 people die from smoking-related diseases
in the UK each year.
[16]
UK cigarette prices: UK Government. "Tobacco
Products Duty rates."
UK Gov Tobacco Duty →
Cigarette prices in the UK vary by brand and retailer.
Average pack of 20 cigarettes costs £14-£16.
[17]
UK economic burden: Action on Smoking and
Health (ASH). "Economics of Tobacco."
ASH Economic Report →
Smoking costs the UK economy approximately £17 billion
annually in healthcare, lost productivity, and other societal
costs.
All sources accessed and verified as of November 2024. Statistics represent the most current available data from authoritative health organizations.
Bob says: "Everyone talks about the 8 million who die. Nobody talks about the hundreds of millions who wish they could."
Bob's seen people who can't walk to their mailbox without stopping to catch their breath. Forty-year-olds with amputated legs. Parents who can't play with their kids because they're too sick.
The tobacco industry loves that you only think about death. Because if you knew what it's actually like to live with COPD—waking up every morning drowning in your own lungs—you'd never touch another cigarette.
Here's the part they don't tell you: most smokers don't die quickly. They suffer for decades. The average COPD patient lives 10+ years after diagnosis, each year worse than the last. That's 10+ years of drowning slowly, of being trapped in a body that doesn't work, of watching your family watch you suffer.
Americans living with smoking-caused disease
For every death, 30 people suffer with disease
Annual healthcare costs for treating smoking diseases
Of smokers want to quit but feel trapped
Within 20 minutes of quitting: Heart rate drops to normal levels
Within 2-12 weeks: Circulation improves and lung function increases up to 30%
Within 1 year: Heart disease risk drops by 50%
Within 5-10 years: Stroke risk reduced to that of a non-smoker
The best time to quit was yesterday. The second best time is right now.
Quit Smoking Bob™
Sessions are held every Thursday—morning, afternoon, and evening times available to fit your timezone.
Join the Global Movement Now →