I think it's worse than just two years.
Friends in their prime succumbed to drink or drugs in my circle.
I quit smoking in my early 30s because I could barely warm up before being winded because I was a pack a day smoker. Without seeing what other older skaters were doing at this age or older, it would be easy to dismiss it as a consequence of old age if nicotine addiction convinces you. When I was addicted I would say shit like 10 out 10 people die when someone would trot out the statistics of how many people die from tobacco.
I do agree this bit needs to be backed with facts, but I wish I believed something else when I was harming myself in my youth now as I near 50.