US smoking rate at lowest since records began
15 years, 5 months ago
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Posted on Nov 17, 2008, 7 a.m.
By Rich Hurd
New figures released by the CDC have revealed that the percentage of US citizens who smoke cigarettes has fallen below 20% for the first time since the government agency began keeping records in the mid-1960's.
New figures released by the CDC have revealed that the percentage of US citizens who smoke cigarettes has fallen below 20% for the first time since the government agency began keeping records in the mid-1960's.
The prevalence of smoking in the US has been falling steadily since the CDC began keeping records in 1965, when 42.4% of the adult population smoked. The number of smokers dropped below the 30% mark in 1987, and has continued dropping, albeit quite slowly, ever since. In 2006, 20.8% of the adult population smoked cigarettes, however by 2007 the rate had fallen by a full percentage point to 19.8%.
Despite the drop the CDC warns that it is unlikely that the national health objective of reducing the prevalence of adult cigarette smoking to 12% or lower will be met by 2010. “The good news, we continue to see fewer people smoking,” said Janet Collins, Ph.D., director of the CDC′s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. “The bad news is we need more people to quit. Quitting smoking is the most important step smokers can take to improve their health and protect the health of nonsmoking family members.”
Cigarette Smoking Among Adults --- United States, 2007. Mortality and Morbidity Weekly Report. 2008;57:1221-1226.
News release: Slightly Lower Adult Smoking Rates. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. November 13th 2008.
