>"Cigarette smoking is the single most preventable cause of
>premature death in the United States. Each year, more than
>400,000 Americans die from cigarette smoking. In fact, one in
>every five deaths in the United States is smoking related."
>
>Well, that's amazing given that 25% of people in America
>smoke. So apparently if you die and you're a smoker, there's
>near 100% chance smoking is what killed you. Not a heart
>attack you would've had anyway, etc.
>

It is accurate that approx 25% of Americans are current smokers but the above quote does not directly relate current smokers to smoking related deaths. "Smoking related" is a broader classification encompassing those that smoke as well as those that have previously smoked. It is possible to have a smoking related death years after an individual has quit smoking. As a whole greater the 40% of the American population has, does, or will smoke in their lifetime.

I am uncertain in the context of this quote but it is also possible that smoking related deaths includes some estimated number of deaths related to second hand smoke. This would effectively increase the % of the population that might experience a smoking related death as well. The point is, it is important to know what a statistic states before trying to compare it to other statistics.

I do agree that statistics used to argue for one position over another in almost any context are often misleading and should be viewed with a certain level of skepticism though.