BANGOR – Smokers might think it’s a drag, but the truth is cigarette smoke kills.

This is the message that area tobacco prevention program personnel are stressing today during the American Cancer Society’s 27th annual Great American Smokeout.

“Tobacco accounts for one out of every five deaths, killing more people each year than AIDS, alcohol, drug abuse, car crashes, murders, suicides and fires – combined,” the ACS Web site states. “Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death and disease in America.”

Every day in New England, 61 individuals die from complications related to smoking, according to the ACS’ New England Division. However, there is some good news for Maine’s youth.

“Maine is number one in the country in reducing teen tobacco use,” said Janet Spencer, director of the Bangor Region Partners for Health. “We’ve made tremendous strides. Since 1997 there has been a strong effort in this state to keep kids from starting tobacco.”

This is one reason to focus Great American Smokeout efforts at area youth, said Spencer.

“Our focus this year is on schools and colleges,” she said. “The middle school and high school numbers are going down.”

Spencer said a major goal of the BRPH is to reduce these numbers even further and that is why they have partnered with SAD 22, which includes schools in Hampden, Newburgh and Winterport.

Hampden Academy’s student advocate group, the TEACH team, will be passing out buttons, pencils and other items that say “Tobacco Free ME” or “Tobacco is not cool,” Spencer said.

Eastern Maine Community College and the University of Maine both have exhibitions today that display the adverse affects of tobacco use.

“We’re going to try and encourage people who do smoke to go tobacco-free for 24 hours in honor of somebody,” said Spencer.