Cigarette smoking is no longer as popular in the United States. According to new data, less American adults are smokers.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration have been collecting data on cigarette smoking since the 1960s. They found that only 14 percent of adults in the United States used tobacco products in 2017 — the lowest since the public health agencies started keeping records.
Fewer Americans Are Smoking
Among those surveyed, 47 million Americans admitted that they smoked every day in 2017. The number is slightly lower compared to 2016 that recorded 15.5 percent of adult Americans.
The decline is even more impressive compared to the number of smokers in the United States back in the 60s. In 1965, over 40 percent of American adults admitted to consuming tobacco products.
"This new all-time low in cigarette smoking among U.S. adults is a tremendous public health accomplishment - and it demonstrates the importance of continued proven strategies to reduce smoking," said Robert Redfield, CDC director, in a statement. "Despite this progress, work remains to reduce the harmful health effects of tobacco use."
The number of smokers in the young adult age range is also down 3 percent from 2016 to 2017. Last year, only 10 percent of surveyed young adults from age 18 to 24 were smokers compared to 13 percent the year before.
The findings published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report also included a breakdown of the portion of the population who still use tobacco products including cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and pipes or hookahs. Out of the 47 million smokers, 9 million use more than one tobacco products.
Tobacco-Free America
National Cancer Institute Director Norman E. Sharpless explained that ending the use of tobacco products in the United States would dramatically decrease the number of cancer-related deaths across the country.
The CDC and the FDA promise to continue pushing efforts to reduce tobacco use and therefore, tobacco-related deaths and diseases in the United States. The CDC has published a guideline that can help tobacco users to quit smoking. Meanwhile, the FDA currently has a campaign called "Every Try Counts," an education campaign that encourages smokers to quit by providing messages of support via texts.
