Facts About Smoking Among U_S_ Adults: CDC-OC
Article title: Facts About Smoking Among U_S_ Adults: CDC-OC
Conditions: Smoking
Source: CDC-OC
Smoking Among U.S.
Adults
December 24, 1997
Office on Smoking and Health
(770)
4885493
CDC, Division of Media
Relations
(404) 6393286
- An estimated 47 million (24.7 percent) adults were smokers in the
United States in 1995 --24.5 million men (27 percent) and 22.4 million
women (22.6 percent).
- Among the various ethnic groups, smoking prevalence is highest for
American Indians and Alaska Natives (36.2 percent), and lowest for
Asian-Pacific Islanders (16.6 percent).
- Smoking is highest among persons with 911 years of education
(37.5 percent) and lowest among persons with 16 or more years of
education (14.0 percent). Smoking is higher among persons living below
the poverty level (32.5 percent) than among those living at or above the
poverty level (23.8 percent).
- Approximately 44.3 million adults are former smokers -- 25 million
men and 19.3 million women.
- In 1995, nearly 70 percent (32 million) of current adult smokers
said they wanted to quit smoking completely. Among current everyday
adult smokers, an estimated 17.3 million (45.8 percent) had stopped
smoking for at least 1 day during the preceding year.
- Quitting smoking has major and immediate health benefits for smokers
of all ages. After 1 year off cigarettes, the excess risk of heart
disease caused by smoking is reduced by about half. After 10 years, the
risk of lung cancer for former smokers drops to is less than one-half
that of a continuing smoker. In five to 15 years, the risk of stroke for
former smokers returns to the level of those who never smoked.
- Effective nicotine cessation treatment includes: problem solving
skills training, within treatment social support, and nicotine
replacement therapy. Although brief interventions with these approaches
are effective, more intensive interventions increase a smoker's chances
for success.
- A variety of organizations including the American Cancer Society,
the American Lung Association, and the American Heart Association
actively support programs to encourage and assist people to stop
smoking.
For more information, visit CDC's website at http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco
This page last reviewed
URL:
Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention
Office of
Communication
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