Current Cigarette Smoking Among Adults—United States, 2005–2014

November 13, 2015 / Vol. 64 / No. 44

MMWR Introduction

CDC assessed the most recent national estimates of smoking prevalence among adults aged ≥18 years using data from the 2014 National Health Interview Survey. The findings indicate that the proportion of US adults who smoke cigarettes declined from 20.9% in 2005 to 16.8% in 2014; declines were also observed in the proportions of daily smokers who smoked 20-29 (34.9% to 27.4%) or ≥30 cigarettes per day (12.7% to 6.9%). In 2014, prevalence of cigarette smoking was higher among males, adults aged 25-44 years, multiracial or American Indian/Alaska Natives, and those who have a general education development (GED) certificate, live below the federal poverty level, live in the Midwest, are insured through Medicaid or are uninsured, have a disability or limitation, or are lesbian, gay, or bisexual.

Sustained comprehensive state tobacco control programs funded at CDC-recommended levels could accelerate progress towards reducing the health and economic burden of tobacco-related diseases in the United States. However, during 2015, despite combined revenue of $25.6 billion from settlement payments and tobacco taxes for all states, states will spend only $490.4 million (1.9%) on comprehensive tobacco control programs, representing <15% of the CDC-recommended level of funding for all states combined. Moreover, only two states (Alaska and North Dakota) currently fund tobacco control programs at CDC-recommended levels. Implementation of comprehensive tobacco control interventions can result in substantial reductions in tobacco-related morbidity and mortality and billions of dollars in savings from averted medical costs. Additionally, states can work with health-care systems, insurers, and purchasers of health insurance to improve coverage and use of tobacco cessation treatments and to implement health systems changes that make tobacco dependence treatment a standard of clinical care.