(CTN News) – According to federal survey statistics released Thursday, cigarette smoking in the United States reached another all-time low last year, with 1 in 9 Americans reporting they were current smokers.
The usage of e-cigarettes increased, reaching around 1 in 17 persons.
The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention’s preliminary findings are based on survey answers from more than 27,000 respondents.
Cigarette smoking has long been regarded as the biggest cause of preventable mortality since it increases the risk of heart disease, lung cancer, and stroke.
In the middle of the 1960s, 42% of American adults smoked
Due to tobacco product price increases, smoking prohibitions, cigarette taxes, and changes in the social perception of public smoking, the rate has been steadily declining for decades.
Adult smoking rates decreased to about 11% in the past year from roughly 12.5% in 2020 and 2021. After more analysis, survey results are occasionally altered, and the CDC is shortly going to reveal the final 2021 data.
According to survey statistics, the usage of e-cigarettes increased to about 6% last year from approximately 4.5% the year before.
Rise In e-cigarette Use
Dr. Jonathan Samet, dean of the Colorado School of Public Health, is alarmed by the surge in e-cigarette use.
According to the American Heart Association, nicotine addiction has its own health risks, such as a potential for high blood pressure and artery narrowing.
“I believe that smoking will continue to decline, but whether the prevalence of nicotine addiction will decrease is not clear, given the growth of electronic products,” said Samet.
Who has contributed to nearly four decades’ worth of U.S. Surgeon General publications on smoking and health.
For teenagers, the ratio of smokers to vapers is practically flipped.
According to other CDC data, only 2% of high school students smoked conventional cigarettes last year, but 14% of them used e-cigarettes.
