Tobacco

Smoking Rates Drop to New Low: CDC

Anti-smoking campaigns, taxes and smoking bans contribute to reduced cigarette use

ATLANTA -- The number of smokers in the United States has hit a record low, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In its latest national survey on cigarette use, the government health organization reported that 14% of adults ages 18 and older smoked cigarettes last year, down from about 16% in 2016, according to USA Today.

That compares to about 21% of adults in the United States who smoked in 2006 and 42% in 1965, according to the report.

Estimates put the number of adult smokers at 30 million today.

The recently released survey showed smoking among high school students was down to 9%, also a new low as anti-smoking campaigns, cigarette taxes and smoking bans combine to bring down overall smoking rates, USA Today reported.

The CDC survey involved about 27,000 participants. It offered no new information for adult use of electronic-cigarettes and vaping products, the report said. However, CDC figures from 2016 showed 3% of adults used vaping products.

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