Adult cigarette use in the United States is at an all-time low, according to government survey data released on Thursday. However, e-cig use has risen to about 1 in 17 adults.
According to the Associated Press, data from a preliminary survey released Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found the number of U.S. adults who reported being current smokers fell to a new historic low last year, with only one out of nine adults smoking. By contrast, electronic cigarette usage increased, with about one 1 in 17 adults using e-cigarettes. The data is based on responses from over 27,000 adults.
“I think that smoking will continue to ebb downwards, but whether the prevalence of nicotine addiction will drop, given the rise of electronic products, is not clear," said Dr. Jonathon Samet, Dean of the Colorado School of Public Health, according to AP News.
AP News reports that the prevalence of smoking among U.S. adults has been decreasing since the mid-1960s when as many at 42% of adults were smokers. The decline in smoking is primarily due to cigarette taxes, tobacco product price hikes, smoking bans and changes in social attitudes towards smoking in public. According to preliminary survey data released by the CDC, the percentage of adult smokers dropped to approximately 11% last year, down from about 12.5% in 2020 and 2021. The CDC is expected to release final 2021 data soon, and the survey results are subject to revision after further analysis. Additionally, the use of e-cigarettes increased to nearly 6% last year, up from about 4.5% the previous year.
According to AP News Samet is concerned by the rising use of e-cigarettes. The American Heart Association has noted that nicotine addiction poses its own health risks, such as an increased risk of high blood pressure and arterial constriction. AP news reports smoking and vaping rates are almost reversed for teens-- about 2% of high school students had reported smoking traditional cigarettes last year, but as many as 14% were using e-cigs according to CDC data.
