Smoking is on the decline in America, not only in the total number of active smokers, but in the amount of cigarettes consumed. A newly released report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that while fewer American adults are smoking, and those who still do are smoking less, the trend of decline falls short of government expectations.
According to the report, the number of American adults over 18 years of age who were smokers in 2010 totaled approximately 45 million, accounting for about 19.3 percent of the adult population. The figure represents a 1.6 percent decline when compared to the 20.9 percent of people who reported being smokers in 2005. This means that overall about 3 million less people were smoking.
Among adults who continue to smoke, 78.2 percent (35.4 million) smoke each day, although even these smokers report cutting back on the number of daily cigarettes smoked.
In addition, the report shows that there has been an increase of more than 5 percent in the number of smokers who have less than 10 cigarettes a day, at 21.8 percent in 2010, up from 16.4 percent in 2005, while just 8.3 percent of daily smokers now have 30 or more cigarettes daily, a drop of nearly 4.5 percent from the 12.7 percent reported in 2005.
In a statement, CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden said, “Any decline in the number of people who smoke and the number of cigarettes consumed is a step in the right direction. However, tobacco use remains a significant health burden for the people of United States.” He pointed out that you don’t have to be a heavy smoker to get smoking-related diseases. Frieden then added, “States with the strongest tobacco control programs have the greatest success at reducing smoking.”
Health Cost of Smoking
However, the CDC found that rate of the decline between 2005 and 2010 has slowed since the previous five-year period. According to a statement from Dr. Tim McAfee, director of the CDC Office on Smoking and Health, “This slowing trend shows the need for intensified efforts to reduce cigarette smoking among adults.” He went on to explain, “We know what works: higher tobacco prices, hard-hitting media campaigns, graphic health warnings on cigarette packs, and 100 percent smoke-free policies, with easily accessible help for those who want to quit.”
Smoking costs the nation approximately $193 billion per year in health care expenses and lost productivity. Smoking, or second hand smoke exposure, is both the leading cause of preventable death and preventable disease in America, and claims the lives of an estimated 443,000 people each year. For every smoking-related death, an additional 20 people suffer from a smoking-related disease, including heart disease and lung cancer.
For smokers, quitting smoking greatly increases the chance for survival and improved health, no matter how long a person may have been a smoker.
According to the American Cancer Society, just twenty minutes after you decide not to smoke, your blood pressure drops, but if you are able to hold out past one day, significant health advances are in your future. For example, the Surgeon General’s Report says that between 2 weeks and 3 months of quitting, a former smoker will most likely experience better lung function and blood circulation.
