Cigarette smoking among U.S. adults lowest ever recorded

[Omaha Steve]

Source: CBS News

By ASHLEY WELCH

The number of U.S. adults who smoke cigarettes has reached the lowest level ever recorded, according to new government data. However, despite the progress, health officials say too many Americans are still using tobacco products.

According to the report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, and the National Institute of Health's National Cancer Institute (NCI), an estimated 14 percent of U.S. adults — about 34 million people— had smoked cigarettes in the past 30 days when they were surveyed in 2017. That's down from 15.5 percent in 2016. The figure has declined a whopping 67 percent since 1965.

However, the latest data showed that about 47 million, or 1 in 5, Americans still use a variety of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, which are increasingly popular among young people.

"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," CDC Director Robert Redfield, said in a statement. "Despite this progress, work remains to reduce the harmful health effects of tobacco use."

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cigarette-smoking-among-u-s-adults-lowest-ever-recorded/

[Mosby]

1. Nanny-statism works, who knew.

[LanternWaste]

2. Positive public health is equivalent to nanny-statism. Who knew...?

Six of one, half a dozen of the other. And each as without merit as the other.

You're circling pretty damned close to the anti-vaccine crowd with that stuff...

[Mosby]

6. my comment is aimed towards progressives

Who go on about authoritarian governmental actions. You have been here long enough to know what I'm talking about. Remember the libertarian socialist contingent?

Maybe I should have used the sarcasm thingy.

[duhneece]

39. And not one person arrested

The ‘War on Drugs’ criminalized that which should have been treated as a public health issue. We researched what works and offered nicotine lozenges, patches and gum. We offered specific anti-depression meds, support groups (American Lung Association research what works). Why not do the same for opiate or stimulant addiction?

[Farmer-Rick]

5. Yeah, all those right wing talking heads complain about the Nanny state too

Funny finding their talking points here on DU.

[Mosby]

8. so do liberals

Look at the political compass:



There are lots of liberals/progressives who are libertarian. I'm not one of them, my comment was meant as sarcasm.

[niyad]

3. and yet, the government STILL subsidizes the tobacco industry, and punishes hemp.

[Farmer-Rick]

4. Yeah, because the adults who did get addicted to smoking regularly are dying.

Tough to live past your 50s if you smoke.

Smoking is the only commercial product that used as directed will lead to your heart disease, cancer and early death.

[RobinA]

25. Tough To Live Past

your 50’s if you smoke? It’s nonsense like that that makes people discount all health messages.

[Hooterville]

7. I quit

After smoking for 40+ years, I quit 3 months ago and feel great!

[Tobin S.]

10. Welcome to DU.

[Dave Starsky]

11. Congratulations. That's terrific!

I've lived through a time where everyone smoked to a time when it's just plain weird to see anyone smoking. I'm glad you quit.

[rurallib]

12. congratulations, Hooter & welcome to DU

My wishes for continued success. Keep us posted on your progress in the Lounge

I quit myself. It was hard , but I have now lasted @ 43 years off the weed.
Taking deep breaths when I had the urge in those days before patches and gum.

[Mosby]

13. that's great!

I quit about 10 years ago, best thing I ever did.

Mostly I stopped because of the price, my health at the time was fine.

Belated welcome to DU, I hope you keep participating, 13 years before a first post might just be a record, lol.

[RobinA]

26. I Quit 4 1/2 Years

ago because I knew I should. Can’t say I noticed any difference at all. I wish I could say I did, but nope. I can only say I hope there's some hidden difference that it made, because I do (did) enjoy a cigarette!

[FakeNoose]

21. You made a good move

I grew up in a family with both parents smoking, both died of cancer. Of the 9 kids my parents had, only one smokes now. All the rest of us have either quit or we never started. Myself, I was a "social" smoker for about 10 years but I quit when I was 30 and never looked back.

Once I quit smoking, I started noticing "that smell" that I never noticed before when I was around smokers. Pretty soon I learned that I hated the smell and I only tolerated it at my parents' house for a few hours. You'll get to that point eventually, and that's when you know you've quit for good. Good luck!

[panader0]

24. 50 plus years here.

About 150 days so far.

[rurallib]

9. Let 'em take a crack at the gun problem

[raccoon]

32. Amen! Make it unpopular to shoot a bunch of strangers. Nt

[rurallib]

14. I watched both of my parents die from lung cancer ages 57 and 62

That will scare the smoking right out of you.

[Bengus81]

16. Yup...my mom died at 65 and about six months.......

Worked a good part of her life and collected all of four or five Social Security checks.........

[Bengus81]

15. Who around here hasn't had a parent or two killed by cancer sticks?

My parents both born in the 20's were eventually taken out from decades of smoking as well as grandparents aunts and uncles. Yet my next door neighbor and his wife in their 30's both smoke.

[Aristus]

17. For me, it was my grandparents.

My paternal grandparents both smoked heavily and died horrible, agonizing deaths from lung cancer and emphysema.

My maternal grandparents quit smoking early, and lived into their nineties, and died of causes unrelated to smoking.

Neither of my parents smoked.

My dad died of pancreatic cancer.

My mother is alive and kicking at 78.

[RobinA]

27. I Haven't

Grandfathers both smoked, one quit cigs in the ‘60s one never did. Both smoked pipes until they died. In their 80s. My father smoked until about a year before he died at 84. I wish we hadn’t made him quit, because he never reaped a benefit. He probably would have lived longer if he hadn't smoked, but who knows. Died of cardiovascular disease. Like many smokers and non smokers.

Not saying smoking is good or can’t be deadly, but it isn’t for everyone.

[DownriverDem]

18. Young Folks

I work in Downtown Detroit. Quicken Loans is all over Downtown. Many young folks work for them. All I see are young folks smoking. It amazes me.

[Runningdawg]

19. Analog vs Digital

Add in the number of people vaping, with those smoking leaf tobacco and I doubt the numbers have changed very much. 6 people in my immediate family "quit smoking" now they all vape. I used vaping to QUIT - 4-1-18.

[The Liberal Lion]

20. I don't think it's fair to equate vaping with cigs

You know as a former vaper yourself that's not a good equivalency. I vape, I love to vape. I make my own juice, and I have a tremendous collection of mods and atomizers, and I haven't as a result touched a cigarette in 5 years. I smoked for 20 years, and then quit smoking by vaping in 3 months. Am I addicted to nicotine, vaping? probably considering the mad stacks of loot I spend on my collection. Whatever, it's heads and shoulders better than smoking. Perhaps not in the manner that I vape, but certainly vaping as a public health matter should be encouraged to smokers, even if those smoking quitters end up becoming vape junkies like me. Just my two cents on the matter.

[dixiegrrrrl]

23. Dunno if they are counting the sales of vape supplies

or the sales of nicotine cartridges and extrapolating from there.

but I do know several people who vape cannabis cartridges, and I would safely assume there are a LOT who do that.

[RobinA]

28. I Quit By Vaping

and I have to say, there’s no comparison. Vaping can get rid of the craving for nicotine enough that you don’t have to smoke, but it’s nowhere near as enjoyable as a cig. I can go weeks without vaping. I enjoy it at times, but its nothing like a smoke.

[Runningdawg]

29. Maybe not right to equating vaping with cigs

but I can guarantee your Dr. and Insurance Company does. Nicotine is nicotine, no matter the delivery system.

[catsudon]

22. it helps when

the tax is high and you can get pot easier.

i'm okay with that. one joint vs what, 20, 30 cigs a day?

[The_jackalope]

30. 35 years ago I quit from 75/day - cold turkey

It was the single hardest, and best, thing I've ever done.

[leftyladyfrommo]

31. We're all smoking pot instead.

You have to smoke something to make it through these troubled times. Better than drinking.

[Codeine]

33. Not all of us.

One doesn’t “have to” do any such thing.

[elocs]

34. I've never smoked anything and gave up drinking 43 years ago.

I have a mentally ill 27 year old goddaughter who smokes but up to 90% of those with schizophrenia smoke because it helps them to think, but even when she is successfully well medicated with her psych meds and she smokes marijuana she ends up in a psychotic break. So no, weed doesn't kill her (since that apparently is the bar) but its use will end up with her being put in the psych ward. She also uses it to deal with the troubling times in her mind.

[Sunlei]

37. get her over the counter nicotine gum? better then the lung smoke damages.

[leftyladyfrommo]

36. I didn't mean for people to take this so seriously.

Most of my friends are old hippies. We have been smoking for 50 years. It does keep my blood pressure anout 10 points lower than it would be. And it really helps my joint and muscle pain. It is a lot safer than opioids.


I did see where more baby boomers are smoking. They use it more for pain control than anything else.

[Sunlei]

35. 1 in 5, good enough for USAs corporate healthcare to wringout tons more profit!

[workinclasszero]

38. I quit 29 years ago. Cold turkey

The only available option at the time lol. I had smoked for 20 years.

I had a cousin born the same year as me who smoked as well and never kicked the filthy habit.

He got lung cancer years later and they removed one of his lungs. Then he died about 3 years after that.

There is no doubt in my mind that I would be in the graveyard myself right now is I hadn't quit killer tobacco all those years ago.

Quit now if you smoke. You don't want to die that way trust me. Vape, try patches, go cold turkey do anything you can to stop smoking before it kills you.

[Jersey Devil]

40. I quit 5 years ago

after over 40 years of smoking 2 packs per day. No more wheezing, no shortness of breath, no coughing, clear lungs according to my doctor, feel great. I also started exercising a lot more, walking about 2 miles per day and lost 50 pounds.

I quit by vaping, tapering down the nicotene contents of my vapes from 24 mil, to 18 to 12 to 6, 3 and then 0 and last year gave up vaping as well, though I don't think vaping was harming me in any way.