Adult smoking rates decline in U.S. (MMWR report)
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The US Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC)’s November 13, 2015 Morbidity and Mortality Report shows you U.S. adult smoking rates declined to a current national adult smoking rate of 14.9%, as of the first half of 2015.
The percentage of adults who smoke fell from 20.9% in 2005 to 17.8% in 2013, 16.8% in 2014, and 14.9% in the first half of 2015.
Cigarette smoking among adults has been declining since 1965, but in the mid-2000s progress stalled, mostly because state tobacco control programs were curtailed due to lack of funding. In 2009, an increase in the federal tax on cigarettes and a new law granting the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authority to regulate tobacco products.
This MMWR Report noted that U.S. Prevention Task Force does not recommend using e-cigarettes to quit smoking.
According to the NY Times’ November 23, 2015 Editorial, progress has been furthered in recent years by insurance coverage for smoking-cessation programs under the Affordable Care Act.
Read the full MMWR report here.