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Introduction
The prevalence of adult cigarette smoking in the U.S. has steadily declined since the first Surgeon General’s Report on the harms of smoking was published in 1964, when smoking prevalence was 42 percent. Currently, according to the 2018 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS),13.9 percent of adults (an estimated 34.2 million people) smoke cigarettes. While the prevalence of daily smoking has dropped over time, nondaily smoking has remained relatively stable. Many studies show that there is no safe level of smoking. For example, individuals who smoke as few as one cigarette per day over their lifetime are at a higher risk of smoking-related death than never smokers, according to the Association of Long-term, Low-Intensity Smoking with All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality in the National Institutes of Health-AARP Diet and Health Study article, published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine.
Besides cigarettes, other tobacco products are also used by U.S. adults. In 2018, the NHIS reported that 9.6 million adults (4.0%) smoked cigars, 5.9 million adults (2.4%) used smokeless tobacco and 8.1 million (3.4%) used e-cigarettes.
A cigar is defined as a roll of tobacco wrapped in leaf tobacco or in a substance that contains tobacco (whereas a cigarette is defined as a roll of tobacco wrapped most often in paper or some other non-tobacco substance). There are three major types of cigars currently sold in the U.S. – large cigars, cigarillos, and little cigars. Little cigars are about the same size as a cigarette and often include a filter. Cigar smoking in the U.S. has recently been characterized by increasing product diversity, and marketing of these products has been targeted to specific population groups, including urban African Americans, which has contributed to an increase in prevalence of their use among adolescents and young adults.
Like cigarette smoke, cigar smoke contains toxic and carcinogenic compounds that are harmful to both smokers and nonsmokers. Cigar smoking causes oral cavity cancers (cancers of the lip, tongue, mouth, and throat) and cancers of the larynx (voice box), esophagus, and lung. Gum disease and tooth loss are also linked to cigar smoking, and heavy cigar smokers and those who inhale deeply may further be at increased risk of developing coronary heart disease. Heavy cigar smoking also increases the risk for lung diseases, such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis, which can be risk factors for lung cancer.
Smokeless tobacco is also known as chewing tobacco, spit tobacco, snuff, dip, or snus. Snuff is a finely cut or powdered tobacco that is either placed between the cheek and gum, or sniffed through the nose, respectively. Some moist snuff and all snus come in tea bag-like pouches. Chewing tobacco is used by putting a wad (loose leaves, plug, or twist) of tobacco inside the cheek.
Chewing tobacco and snuff contain at least 28 cancer-causing agents. Use of smokeless tobacco causes oral, esophageal, and pancreatic cancer. Smokeless tobacco also causes serious oral health problems, including gum disease, other non-cancerous oral lesions, and tooth loss, and increases the risk of heart disease.
E-cigarettes (also known as vapes or Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems) are battery-powered devices that convert a liquid (“e-liquid”) into an aerosol. E-liquids typically contains nicotine, flavorings, vegetable glycerin, propylene glycol and other chemicals. Besides nicotine, e-cigarette aerosol may contain heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, and fine and ultrafine particles that can be inhaled deeply into the lungs by both users and by-standers.
E-cigarette use among adults may potentially reduce the health risks associated with conventional cigarette smoking if users switch completely to e-cigarettes. However, the majority of U.S. adults who use e-cigarettes also smoke conventional cigarettes and are at continued risk for exposure to their toxic and carcinogenic compounds, and subsequent smoking-related morbidity and mortality. As noted above, overall, 3.4% of U.S. adults (8.1 million people) were current e-cigarette users in 2018. E-cigarette use was higher among men than women (4.4% vs. 2.4%), among young adults (aged 18-24) than adults overall (7.6% vs. 3.4%), and among those with vs. without serious psychological distress (6.2% vs. 3.1%).
In 2019, the U.S. experienced an outbreak of e-cigarette and vaping associated lung injury (EVALI). As of February 18, 2020, a total of 2,807 EVALI cases or deaths were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), CDC, and state health authorities have determined that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-containing e-cigarette, or vaping, products are linked to most EVALI cases. Vitamin E acetate is strongly linked to the EVALI outbreak; however, evidence is not sufficient to rule out the contribution on other chemicals of concern.
Cigarette smoking is the leading preventable cause of disease, disability, and death in the United States. Smoking causes cancers of the lung, esophagus, larynx, mouth, throat, kidney, bladder, liver, pancreas, stomach, cervix, colon and rectum, anus, as well as acute myeloid leukemia. Altogether it causes approximately 30 percent of all U.S. cancer deaths each year. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2019, almost 182,100 of the estimated 606,880 cancer-related deaths will be caused by cigarette smoking.
Measure
Cigarettes: Percentage of adults aged 18 years and older who, at the time of the interview, were current cigarette smokers.
Smokeless tobacco: Percentage of adults aged 18 years and older who, at the time of the interview, were smokeless tobacco users.
Cigars: Percentage of adults aged 18 years and older who, at the time of the interview, were current cigar smokers.
E-Cigarettes: Percentage of adults aged 18 years and older who, at the time of the interview, were current e-cigarette smokers.
Healthy People 2020 Target
- Reduce to 12 percent the proportion of adults who are current cigarette smokers.
- Reduce to 0.2 percent the proportion of adults who are current smokeless tobacco users.
- Reduce to 0.3 percent the proportion of adults who are current cigar smokers.
Healthy People 2020 is a set of goals set forth by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Note: Goals are indicated as blue line on Detailed Trend Graphs.
Data Source
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, National Health Interview Survey, 1965–2018.
Trends and Most Recent Estimates
By Type of Tobacco Product
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
Cigarettes![]() |
13.9 | 13.3 - 14.6 |
Smokeless Tobacco![]() |
2.4 | 2.2 - 2.7 | |
Cigars![]() |
4.0 | 3.7 - 4.4 | |
E-Cigarettes![]() |
3.4 | 3.1 - 3.7 |
Cigarettes, Long Term Trends (1965+)
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
Both Sexes![]() |
13.9 | 13.3 - 14.6 |
Male![]() |
15.8 | 14.9 - 16.7 | |
Female![]() |
12.2 | 11.4 - 13.0 |
Cigarettes
By Race/Ethnicity
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
All Races![]() |
13.9 | 13.3 - 14.6 |
Non-Hispanic White![]() |
15.7 | 14.9 - 16.4 | |
Non-Hispanic Black![]() |
14.7 | 13.1 - 16.5 | |
Hispanic![]() |
9.9 | 8.6 - 11.3 |
By Age
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
Ages 18-24![]() |
7.6 | 6.2 - 9.3 |
Ages 25+![]() |
14.8 | 14.2 - 15.5 |
By Poverty Income Level
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
<200% of federal poverty level![]() |
21.4 | 20.1 - 22.8 |
>=200% of federal poverty level![]() |
11.2 | 10.5 - 11.8 |
By Education Level
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
Less than High School![]() |
23.5 | 21.3 - 25.9 |
High School![]() |
22.9 | 21.3 - 24.5 | |
Greater than High School![]() |
10.7 | 10.1 - 11.4 |
By Smoking Frequency
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
Nondaily Smoker![]() |
3.6 | 3.3 - 3.9 |
Daily Smoker![]() |
10.3 | 9.8 - 10.8 |
Males Ages 18-24 by Race/Ethnicity
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
All Races![]() |
8.1 | 6.3 - 10.3 |
Non-Hispanic White![]() |
10.8 | 8.1 - 14.4 | |
Non-Hispanic Black![]() |
6.1 | 3.0 - 11.9 | |
Hispanic![]() |
3.2 | 1.6 - 6.4 |
Males Ages 18-24 by Poverty Income Level
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
<200% of federal poverty level![]() |
9.9 | 7.0 - 13.8 |
>=200% of federal poverty level![]() |
7.1 | 5.0 - 9.9 |
Females Ages 18-24 by Race/Ethnicity
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
All Races![]() |
7.1 | 5.2 - 9.6 |
Non-Hispanic White![]() |
9.4 | 6.6 - 13.2 | |
Non-Hispanic Black![]() |
3.6 | 1.2 - 10.4 | |
Hispanic![]() |
2.7 | 1.3 - 5.7 |
Females Ages 18-24 by Poverty Income Level
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
<200% of federal poverty level![]() |
9.3 | 6.1 - 13.9 |
>=200% of federal poverty level![]() |
5.5 | 3.1 - 9.5 |
Males Ages 25 and Older by Race/Ethnicity
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
All Races![]() |
16.9 | 16.0 - 17.9 |
Non-Hispanic White![]() |
17.8 | 16.7 - 18.9 | |
Non-Hispanic Black![]() |
20.5 | 17.6 - 23.6 | |
Hispanic![]() |
14.1 | 11.7 - 16.9 |
Males Ages 25 and Older by Poverty Income Level
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
<200% of federal poverty level![]() |
26.7 | 24.5 - 29.0 |
>=200% of federal poverty level![]() |
13.7 | 12.7 - 14.8 |
Males Ages 25 and Older by Education Level
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
Less than High School![]() |
26.8 | 23.6 - 30.4 |
High School![]() |
25.6 | 23.4 - 27.9 | |
Greater than High School![]() |
11.8 | 10.8 - 12.8 |
Females Ages 25 and Older by Race/Ethnicity
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
All Races![]() |
12.9 | 12.1 - 13.7 |
Non-Hispanic White![]() |
15.1 | 14.1 - 16.3 | |
Non-Hispanic Black![]() |
12.7 | 10.9 - 14.9 | |
Hispanic![]() |
7.7 | 6.3 - 9.3 |
Females Ages 25 and Older by Poverty Income Level
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
<200% of federal poverty level![]() |
20.4 | 18.7 - 22.1 |
>=200% of federal poverty level![]() |
10.0 | 9.1 - 10.9 |
Females Ages 25 and Older by Education Level
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
Less than High School![]() |
19.9 | 17.0 - 23.1 |
High School![]() |
19.9 | 17.9 - 22.1 | |
Greater than High School![]() |
9.8 | 8.9 - 10.7 |
Smokeless Tobacco
By Sex
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
Both Sexes![]() |
2.4 | 2.2 - 2.7 |
Male![]() |
4.8 | 4.3 - 5.3 | |
Female![]() |
0.2 | 0.1 - 0.3 |
By Race/Ethnicity
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
All Races![]() |
2.4 | 2.2 - 2.7 |
Non-Hispanic White![]() |
3.5 | 3.2 - 3.9 | |
Non-Hispanic Black![]() |
0.8 | 0.4 - 1.5 | |
Hispanic![]() |
0.4 | 0.2 - 0.9 |
By Age
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
Ages 18-24![]() |
1.6 | 1.1 - 2.2 |
Ages 25+![]() |
2.6 | 2.3 - 2.9 |
By Poverty Income Level
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
<200% of federal poverty level![]() |
2.3 | 1.9 - 2.9 |
>=200% of federal poverty level![]() |
2.5 | 2.2 - 2.8 |
By Education Level
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
Less than High School![]() |
3.0 | 2.2 - 4.3 |
High School![]() |
3.9 | 3.2 - 4.7 | |
Greater than High School![]() |
2.1 | 1.8 - 2.4 |
Males Ages 18-24 by Race/Ethnicity
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
All Races![]() |
3.0 | 2.1 - 4.2 |
Non-Hispanic White![]() |
5.2 | 3.7 - 7.4 | |
Hispanic![]() |
0.3 | 0.0 - 2.5 |
Males Ages 18-24 by Poverty Income Level
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
<200% of federal poverty level![]() |
2.1 | 1.1 - 4.2 |
>=200% of federal poverty level![]() |
3.5 | 2.3 - 5.3 |
Males Ages 25 and Older by Race/Ethnicity
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
All Races![]() |
5.1 | 4.5 - 5.6 |
Non-Hispanic White![]() |
7.2 | 6.4 - 8.0 | |
Non-Hispanic Black![]() |
1.5 | 0.7 - 3.3 | |
Hispanic![]() |
0.9 | 0.4 - 2.0 |
Males Ages 25 and Older by Poverty Income Level
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
<200% of federal poverty level![]() |
5.3 | 4.2 - 6.6 |
>=200% of federal poverty level![]() |
5.0 | 4.4 - 5.7 |
Males Ages 25 and Older by Education Level
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
Less than High School![]() |
5.7 | 4.0 - 8.0 |
High School![]() |
7.1 | 5.9 - 8.5 | |
Greater than High School![]() |
4.2 | 3.6 - 4.8 |
Females Ages 25 and Older by Poverty Income Level
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
<200% of federal poverty level![]() |
0.3 | 0.2 - 0.6 |
>=200% of federal poverty level![]() |
0.2 | 0.1 - 0.3 |
Females Ages 25 and Older by Education Level
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
Less than High School![]() |
0.4 | 0.2 - 0.8 |
High School![]() |
0.2 | 0.1 - 0.5 | |
Greater than High School![]() |
0.2 | 0.1 - 0.3 |
Cigars
By Sex
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
Both Sexes![]() |
4.0 | 3.7 - 4.4 |
Male![]() |
7.0 | 6.4 - 7.7 | |
Female![]() |
1.1 | 0.9 - 1.4 |
By Race/Ethnicity
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
All Races![]() |
4.0 | 3.7 - 4.4 |
Non-Hispanic White![]() |
4.5 | 4.0 - 4.9 | |
Non-Hispanic Black![]() |
4.8 | 3.9 - 6.0 | |
Hispanic![]() |
2.7 | 2.0 - 3.5 |
By Age
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
Ages 18-24![]() |
4.1 | 3.0 - 5.4 |
Ages 25+![]() |
4.0 | 3.6 - 4.3 |
By Poverty Income Level
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
<200% of federal poverty level![]() |
3.6 | 3.1 - 4.2 |
>=200% of federal poverty level![]() |
4.2 | 3.7 - 4.6 |
By Education Level
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
Less than High School![]() |
3.2 | 2.5 - 4.3 |
High School![]() |
4.8 | 3.9 - 5.8 | |
Greater than High School![]() |
3.9 | 3.5 - 4.3 |
Males Ages 18-24 by Race/Ethnicity
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
All Races![]() |
6.0 | 4.3 - 8.4 |
Non-Hispanic White![]() |
8.4 | 5.6 - 12.3 | |
Non-Hispanic Black![]() |
2.6 | 0.9 - 7.5 | |
Hispanic![]() |
3.0 | 1.2 - 7.4 |
Males Ages 18-24 by Poverty Income Level
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
<200% of federal poverty level![]() |
7.4 | 4.9 - 11.2 |
>=200% of federal poverty level![]() |
5.2 | 3.2 - 8.5 |
Females Ages 18-24 by Race/Ethnicity
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
All Races![]() |
2.1 | 1.1 - 4.0 |
Non-Hispanic White![]() |
1.0 | 0.4 - 2.6 | |
Non-Hispanic Black![]() |
4.2 | 1.7 - 10.1 | |
Hispanic![]() |
1.8 | 0.6 - 5.8 |
Females Ages 18-24 by Poverty Income Level
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
<200% of federal poverty level![]() |
1.2 | 0.3 - 5.2 |
>=200% of federal poverty level![]() |
2.7 | 1.2 - 5.8 |
Males Ages 25 and Older by Race/Ethnicity
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
All Races![]() |
7.1 | 6.5 - 7.8 |
Non-Hispanic White![]() |
7.9 | 7.1 - 8.8 | |
Non-Hispanic Black![]() |
9.3 | 7.3 - 11.8 | |
Hispanic![]() |
4.5 | 3.3 - 6.2 |
Males Ages 25 and Older by Poverty Income Level
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
<200% of federal poverty level![]() |
6.0 | 5.0 - 7.2 |
>=200% of federal poverty level![]() |
7.5 | 6.8 - 8.4 |
Males Ages 25 and Older by Education Level
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
Less than High School![]() |
4.9 | 3.6 - 6.6 |
High School![]() |
7.8 | 6.4 - 9.5 | |
Greater than High School![]() |
7.3 | 6.6 - 8.1 |
Females Ages 25 and Older by Race/Ethnicity
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
All Races![]() |
1.0 | 0.8 - 1.3 |
Non-Hispanic White![]() |
1.0 | 0.7 - 1.4 | |
Non-Hispanic Black![]() |
1.6 | 1.0 - 2.5 | |
Hispanic![]() |
0.9 | 0.5 - 1.6 |
Females Ages 25 and Older by Poverty Income Level
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
<200% of federal poverty level![]() |
1.5 | 1.1 - 2.1 |
>=200% of federal poverty level![]() |
0.8 | 0.6 - 1.1 |
Females Ages 25 and Older by Education Level
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
Less than High School![]() |
1.6 | 0.8 - 3.1 |
High School![]() |
1.2 | 0.8 - 2.0 | |
Greater than High School![]() |
0.9 | 0.7 - 1.2 |
E-Cigarettes
By Sex
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
Both Sexes![]() |
3.4 | 3.1 - 3.7 |
Male![]() |
4.4 | 4.0 - 5.0 | |
Female![]() |
2.4 | 2.1 - 2.8 |
By Race/Ethnicity
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
All Races![]() |
3.4 | 3.1 - 3.7 |
Non-Hispanic White![]() |
4.2 | 3.8 - 4.7 | |
Non-Hispanic Black![]() |
1.9 | 1.4 - 2.5 | |
Hispanic![]() |
2.2 | 1.7 - 3.0 |
By Age
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
Ages 18-24![]() |
7.6 | 6.2 - 9.3 |
Ages 25+![]() |
2.8 | 2.5 - 3.1 |
By Sex and Age
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
Males, Ages 18-24![]() |
10.2 | 8.0 - 12.9 |
Males, Ages 25+![]() |
3.6 | 3.2 - 4.0 | |
Females, Ages 18-24![]() |
4.9 | 3.5 - 6.8 | |
Females, Ages 25+![]() |
2.0 | 1.8 - 2.3 |
Evidence-based Resources
The Cancer Control P.L.A.N.E.T. web portal contains tobacco control resources that support collaboration, identify evidence-based approaches, and list research-tested interventions. To identify high-risk populations and prioritize cancer control efforts, state and county-level tobacco data can be found on State Cancer Profiles.
Additional Information on Adult Tobacco Use
For the public
- Tobacco. National Cancer Institute.
- Tobacco and Cancer. American Cancer Society.
- Smoking and Tobacco Use. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Surgeon General’s Reports on Smoking and Tobacco Use. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- 50 Years of Progress: A Report of the Surgeon General, 2014. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
- Smoking Cessation: A Report of the Surgeon General, 2020. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
- Tobacco Products. U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
For tobacco users
- Cigarette Smoking: Health Risks and How to Quit (PDQ®)–Patient Version. National Cancer Institute.
- Smokefree.gov. National Cancer Institute.
- Where To Get Help When You Decide To Quit Smoking. National Cancer Institute.
- How to Quit Smoking or Smokeless Tobacco. American Cancer Society.
- How to Quit Smoking. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- North American Quitline Consortium.
For health professionals
- Cigarette Smoking: Health Risks and How to Quit (PDQ®)–Health Professional Version. National Cancer Institute.
- Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence: 2008 Update – Clinical Practice Guidelines. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
- Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs—2014. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Smoking Cessation – The Role of Healthcare Professionals and Health Systems. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Smoking and Tobacco Use – Healthcare Provider Resources. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Tobacco Use. Million Hearts.
- Tobacco Smoking Cessation in Adults, Including Pregnant Women: Behavioral and Pharmacotherapy Interventions. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.
Scientific reports
- Smokeless Tobacco and Public Health: A Global Perspective. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute. NIH Publication No. 14-7983; 2014.
- How far we have come in the last 50 years in smoking attitudes and actions. Burns D. Ann Am Thorac Soc 2014;11(2):224–6.
- Tobacco Product Use and Cessation Indicators Among Adults – United States. Creamer MR; Wang TR; Babb S. MMWR Morb Mort Wkly Rep 2019. 68 (45); 1013-1019.
- Tobacco control and the reduction in smoking-related premature deaths in the United States, 1964–2012. Holford TR, Mesa R, Warner KE, Meernik C, Jeon J, Moolgavkar SH, Levy DT. JAMA 2014;311(2):164–71.
- State-specific patterns of cigarette smoking, smokeless tobacco use, and e-cigarette use among adults—United States, 2016. Hu SS, Homa DM, Wang T et al. Prev Chronic Dis 2019;16:180362.
- Association of long-term, low-intensity smoking with all-cause and cause-specific mortality in the National Institutes of Health-AARP Diet and Health Study. Inoue-Choi M, Liao LM, Reyes-Guzman C et al. JAMA Intern Med. 2017;177(1):87-95.
- Cigarette smoking, desire to quit, and tobacco-related counseling among patients at adult health centers. Lebrun-Harris LA, Fiore MC, Tomoyasu N, Ngo-Metzger Q. Am J Public Health 2014.
- Multiple tobacco product use among adults in the United States: cigarettes, cigars, electronic cigarettes, hookah, smokeless tobacco, and snus. Lee YO, Hebert CJ, Nonnemaker JM, Kim AE. Prev Med 2014;62C:14–19.
- 2014 Surgeon General’s Report - The Health Consequences of Smoking: 50 Years of Progress. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Statistics
- State Cancer Profiles. National Cancer Institute.
- Cancer Facts and Figures. American Cancer Society.
- Current Cigarette Smoking Among Adults in the United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence and Trends Data, 2012. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Reports and Detailed Tables From the 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
- 2018-2019 Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey (TUS-CPS) Initial Release. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, and National Cancer Institute.