To think that cigarette smoking among adults is on a steady decline and has been since the 70’s or 80’s is actually false. Check out some of this new data:
For the first time in 15 years, cigarette smoking slightly rose this year. About 21% of U.S. adults said that they smoked. This report comes from a survey by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This rate is up from 19.8% last year. It is the first increase in adult smoking since 1994.
Because of indoor smoking laws, taxes and a recent decision by congress to allow the Food and Drug Administration to regulate tobacco, it is a fallacy to believe that everyone in the country has stopped the disgusting habit. Tobacco companies are obviously overcoming these new and growing obstacles.
The tobacco industry has been discounting the price of cigarettes, in an attempt to offset tax increases and marketing to kids and minorities has not stopped either.
Between 1997 and 2004, the retail price of a pack of cigarettes, jumped 63% and adult smoking declined about 15%. Between 2004 and 2008, the price rose just 2%, while adult smoking declined by just about 1%.
Cigarette smoking is still the leading preventable cause of death and illness in the U.S. – despite the dropping smoker’s rate since the mid-60’s, when 2 out of 5 adults smoked. Now the ratio is 1 to 5.
The states which have the lowest smoking rates are those that have been the most aggressive about indoor smoking laws and about state taxes which drive up the cost of cigarettes.
Related posts
Feel free to subscribe to my rss feeds
