Cigarette smoking falls to record low in the United States

[jpak]

Source: CNN

(CNN)Cigarette smoking among US adults fell to its lowest recorded level in 2018: 13.7%, according to a report published Thursday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

That represents a drop of roughly two-thirds since the CDC started collecting this data in 1965.

hievement of a consistent and coordinated effort by the public health community and our many partners," the agency's director, Dr. Robert R. Redfield, said in a statement Thursday. "Yet, our work is far from over."

The report estimated that 49.1 million US adults, or nearly 1 in 5, used any tobacco product in 2018. Cigarettes were the most common at 13.7%, followed by cigars, cigarillos and little filtered cigars, which were used by 3.9% of adults.

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Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/14/health/smoking-tobacco-use-cdc-study/index.html

[DavidDvorkin]

1. This is great news

Except for the part about vaping rising among the young, but maybe in time that will follow the same trend as other tobacco products.

[B Stieg]

2. Great news!

Last edited Sat Nov 16, 2019, 03:46 PM - Edit history (1)

As a patient who has been living with diabetes, multiple sclerosis and bipolar depression for decades, the one thing I've found that every medico has told me is that outside of intravenous drug use or alcoholism, smoking cigarettes is the surest way to demolish your own body and health.

[CountAllVotes]

3. I am highly allergic to cigarette smoke

It was not always this way but now it is.

If I'm around a lot of smoke my nose begins to run non-stop and I have to leave the area where the cigarette smoke is.

I think our bodies know what is not good for you!

Glad to know that people are opting not to smoke any more.

It is stinks and does no good at all!

& recommend!!

[Bayard]

11. Same here with asthma

I'm astounded at the people who will just automatically light up without even asking you. I usually say, I'm sorry--I can't be around that. Sometimes they are tone deaf still, so I walk about 10 ft away, say what I need to say, and leave, usually coughing my head off.

[CountAllVotes]

12. I didn't know wtf was wrong!

I used to smoke years ago but I never much cared for it so I stopped.

I was never allergic to it until recently.

Its a severe allergy and it sure makes it difficult at times.

I tend to avoid the places where I know it will occur if possible.

Some do ask but too often most do not it seems.

[patphil]

4. unfortunately, the CDC says 9 million adults in the US vape.

https://www.atr.org/new-cdc-data-more-9-million-adults-vape-regularly-united-states

[stopdiggin]

7. and are still MUCH better off

than they would be if smoking tobacco. (as are the rest of the population, I might add). Vaping is a VAST improvement for public health. Stop bashing.

[patphil]

14. Bashing?

Hardly.
I merely pointed out the rapid rate of rise of vaping.
And, vaping has it's risks of death or injury.
It's sort of a weaponized nicotine delivery system.
We have no idea of the long term addictive effects on health, especially in children who aren't even counted in the CDC report.

If I was bashing it, I might have said something like, "we need to stop this shit!"
But I didn't.

Patrick Phillips

[50 Shades Of Blue]

16. Scented vape STINKS and being around it gives me a sore throat and irritated sinuses -

Even faster than cigarette smoke does. I loathe them both.

[stopdiggin]

17. oh, I can see that now

And, vaping has it's risks of death or injury.
It's sort of a weaponized nicotine delivery system.

And -- might have said something like, "we need to stop this shit!"
(at the expense of millions of more tobacco related deaths?). But glad you're not bashing.

[patphil]

18. So am I.

[EndlessWire]

20. Oh, no it isn't!!

That's just what you want to believe. Where have you been? Tell this to the teenager who has to have a double lung transplant because of vaping. The lungs are made for oxygen only. Period.

I watched my brother die from smoking. First he discovered he had throat cancer. They pulled all his teeth, and then radiated him as much as possible. He refused full treatment, which involved surgery. Then, he continued to smoke. I'll never forget when the nurse said, "Why bother to stop smoking?" meaning, it's too late. He turned sheet white.

He suffered from smoking because he didn't want to quit. His lungs filled with phlegm to the point where he had huge ropey sheets of it coming out of his mouth. He eventually suffocated to death. He didn't want to go to the hospital, because he knew how that would go. So,he died at home. It was horrible.

I respect your right to do whatever you want with your body. Want to vape? Go ahead. But, don't stick your head up your ass in sheer denial, and don't encourage others to smoke. The lungs are meant for breathing oxygen only. Nothing else. Your need for oral gratification can get you dead.

You can choose to quit. Treat your body like it's a religion. You don't need a religion to do this, but respect yourself and keep yourself together as much as you can. Smoking (and vaping) is not something that is good for you. Show courage and vow to quit. Then, do it.

[The Liberal Lion]

23. He didn't have a double lung transplant because of vaping nicotine

e-liquid. He had a double lung transplant due to vaping black-market THC cartomizers that had the vitamin E acetate adulterant in it. So be careful who you are telling not to stick their head up their asses. You may just find that head is your own.

[EndlessWire]

28. You have missed the point.

I'll bet the kid wishes he had never vaped at all.

I will carefully, cheerfully and consistently tell anyone that the lungs need only oxygen, and that putting anything else in them is folly. If you want to do that, fine, harm yourself as you wish. But, have pity on others who might actually have a choice and who would probably be better off not starting at all.

When you are finally ill from smoking or vaping, while you are in the hospital struggling to breathe, please think of all the people you have encouraged to smoke or vape. You didn't have to speak up in defense of a bad habit that will surely be regretted. The cleanest vape product in existence is still foreign to your lungs.

[The Liberal Lion]

35. Shame on you for trying to manifest a horrible infirmity on to me

You are welcome to your beliefs, but I reject the evil eye you tried to use on me. Besides, it's no way to win a debate.

Peace be with you.

[coti]

41. And you get to think of all the ill will you've wished on effective harm reduction tools, and the

people who have more difficult access to tobacco-free nicotine. You can take your share of responsibility for the HALF MILLION smokers who DIE every year because they couldn't quit tobacco.

[LisaL]

45. I am sure he does. Life expectancy with a lung transplant isn't all that long.

[stopdiggin]

30. YES. It is.

thank you for your testimony -- but vaping is FAR better for both personal and public health than tobacco smoke. It just is.

Science has some concerns -- and a whole LOT of "undetermined due to lack .." -- on the health effects of vaping. But virtually EVERYBODY is in agreement that it is better smoking.

[coti]

37. You are spewing misinformation and doing damage to public health. nt

[coti]

38. Indeed it is. nt

[lapfog_1]

5. but lets include the vaping

people... I know a lot of under 30s who vape

[TexasBushwhacker]

9. And dipping snuff.

My boss dips. Keeps a plastic bottle on his desk to spit into. Disgusting habit.

[coti]

39. There's a connection between vaping existing and tobacco use being at record lows.

Vaping is saving hundreds of thousands of lives.

[defacto7]

6. I don't doubt the stats, I just wish it seemed like it's true.

I've noticed a lot more smoking around here.

[Archae]

8. Tobacco companies are going big time for the Asian markets.

China is bombed with cigarette ads, on TV, radio and billboards.

Big Tobacco is trying to make up for the losses in the US in third-world countries, using the same MO's they used in the US for decades.

[C Moon]

10. And I live with one on either side of my home. What luck.

Both smoke so much they have those horrible smoking voices (and one of them is only 50-something).

[truthisfreedom]

13. Cool.

[Uncle Joe]

15. Kicked and recommended

Thanks for the thread jpak.

[SunSeeker]

19. So only 41.1% of adults smoked in 1965? Seems like it was more.

But 41.1 is still a helluva lot. And a helluva lot of cancer and emphysema.

[BHDem53]

21. I quit cold turkey on

March 14 1982. Best thing I've ever done.

[demigoddess]

22. hallelujah!!! my parents smoked but not around us.

Later on I got migraines around cigarette smoke. Found out it was the ammonia on the leaves to keep it burning. Also the formaldehyde. I used to smell people smoking from a block away and on people's clothes when they weren't smoking and also it came out of their lungs when talking. Smokers do not know how they have it in and on them. They don't notice it. Luckily, I married a nonsmoker and didn't smoke myself. I told my kids these things and they never took up smoking. They know I would smell it if they get anywhere near me!

[BigmanPigman]

26. I can smell it on the freeway if the car

in front of me is smoking and their window is open. I can also smell if they are smoking weed and am sure a cop could if they were following the car too. Since it is legal here now it is no big deal.

[EndlessWire]

29. Good job.

I think your personal example of not smoking is just as important as the telling.

[The Liberal Lion]

24. This drastic reduction in smoking rates

is brought you by VAPING!
And thank goodness it is.

No, no, if you're anti-vape you stay that way. Don't try to tell me what you know and in doing so only tell me just what you don't know.

If you don't smoke, good for you. If you don't vape, good for you.
Don't you dare try and tell me what is good for me.

[Skittles]

32. smoking rates were already falling before VAPING

believe it or not, it is possible to quit without vaping, tens of millions of people managed to do it

[mr_lebowski]

33. They'd been frustratingly stuck at a higher level than now though for many years ...

Vaping has contributed to the rates trending down again after a long-lasting near-plateau.

[coti]

40. But it's much easier with vaping.

So less people die. Good thing, right?

[Skittles]

43. better, but

many people just switched from one to the other.....like another form of addiction

probably not advisable to put ANYTHING in your lungs not prescribed by a doctor

[coti]

44. Well, yeah, you're still addicted to nicotine. But it's not the nicotine that kills you in tobacco.

Nicotine itself could actually be a quite useful chemical in medicine, psychiatry in particular, if it wasn't so demonized because of its association with tobacco.

[BigmanPigman]

25. When I watch older movies and TV shows I always notice the

smoking. They all did it, even doctors while working in hospitals were smoking. So were patients in their rooms. It was everywhere.

I just found out a friend had the bottom part of her lung removed due to cancer. She stopped smoking 20 years ago but before that had smoked for 30 years and it finally caught up with her I guess. She is expected to be OK.

[LittleBunny]

42. I remember when you could smoke in the grocery store.

There were ashtrays at the checkout lanes and at the end of each aisle. Smoking in the malls, every restaurant... Back then everyone smoked in their homes and if you didn't, you still provided ashtrays to your guests who smoked. Asking people to smoke outside was considered rude.

I smoked for 30 years. Quit cold turkey four years ago. I'm posting this from a casino in Reno. I traveled here on business. People are smoking inside here. It's so odd, smoking in an establishment. It seems like it's been 20 years since people were smoking inside.

I priced a pack of cigarettes at the casino vending machine. $12 bucks! That's insane!

Smoking in America today is almost entirely a habit of the poor who seem to have a harder time quitting than the middle and upper classes, educated, who successfully kicked the habit. The constant increase in cigarette costs hit them hard, there's no denying this.

[Aristus]

46. They wouldn't be so poor if they'd just quit.

Quitting a pack-a-day habit can save as much as $4,500 a year.

[rurallib]

27. It is so pleasant to be able to go into businesses these days

and not be hit by a wall of smoke like the old days.

Like many I can now smell the single smoker outside about a block away.
But it is just so nice to be able to enter a restaurant and not have to suck in that blue cloud if you want to eat there.

[intrepidity]

31. Well fuck! Let's get Trump to pick up the slack!!

He needs a new hobby, amiright?

[Maxheader]

34. Tobacco..proof of the

strength a corp can exert on the public...Should be as illegal
as murder....It certainly did a number on my family...

[MissouriLibrul]

36. Fabulous news!

Quit myself five years ago (actual anniversary was 11/11) through hypnotherapy after thirty years. Wish I’d known how easy it could be; I’d have done it so much earlier in life. Still working on the hubby, though. He thinks hypnotherapy worked for me because I believed in it and wanted to quit. I told him “I didn’t want to quit - I HAD to quit” I never had bronchitis or any other lung infections. Never even so much as a chest cold. The truth is, I still loved everything about smoking, except WATCHING BOTH OF MY PARENTS DIE AT 70 because of smoking-related illnesses.

My husband’s dad, uncle and aunt all smoked and all died of lung cancer before the age of 72. I know I can’t guilt the hubby into quitting (tried that already) so all I can do is wait for him to come around (and worry like a crazy woman until he does).

Congrats to all the former smokers in this thread as well as all the others who have contributed to this record-low number of smokers. WTG!

[Baclava]

47. Well, yeah, because I vape now, fuck Big Tobacco

Switched 6 years ago, instantly off stinky smoke. Never went back

Saved many many many thousands.

oh yeah, Vapers vote too!

[WhiskeyGrinder]

48. Quit more than 20 years ago and I miss it every fucking day.