19.3% of American adults smoked in 2010, compared to 20.9% in 2005. There are 45.3 million adult smokers in the USA. Those who smoke every day appear to be consuming fewer cigarettes than they used to, a Vital Signs report issued by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) informs. The authors warn that even the occasional cigarette can damage your health.

Of the 45.3 million adult smokers, 35.4 million light up every day.

The report also revealed that:

  • 21.8% of daily smokers smoked up to nine cigarettes each day in 2110
  • 16.4% of daily smokers in 2005 smoked up to nine cigarettes each day
  • 8.3% of smokers went through at least 30 cigarettes each day in 2010
  • 12.7% smoked 30 cigarettes or more each day in 2005

CDC Director Tom Frieden, M.D., M.P.H., 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. States with the strongest tobacco control programs have the greatest success at reducing smoking.

You don’t have to be a heavy smoker or a long-time smoker to get a smoking-related disease or have a heart attack or asthma attack,” said Dr. Frieden. “The sooner you quit smoking, the sooner your body can begin to heal.”

The decline is slowing down – the fall in the percentage of American adults who smoked was greater during the 2000-2005 period than the five years after that, the authors noted.

Tim McAfee, M.D., M.P.H., director of the CDC Office on Smoking and Health, said:

“This slowing trend shows the need for intensified efforts to reduce cigarette smoking among adults. 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. These approaches are proven to decrease smoking and reduce the health burden and economic impact of tobacco-related diseases in the United States.”

Smoking is still the major preventable cause of disease and death in America. 443,000 Americans are estimated to die annually as a result of active and passive smoking (secondhand tobacco smoke). For every person who dies because of smoking, twenty survive with a smoking-related disease.

Direct health care expenses and lost productivity caused by smoking cost the American economy approximately $193 billion each year.

Studies have demonstrated that effective tobacco control programs have a direct impact on health care costs directly related to smoking (costs go down).

California started the USA’s longest-running tobacco control program in 1988. Since then the proportion of adults who smoke has dropped by almost half, and the number of cigarettes each person smokes has gone down by 67%.

The state of California saved $86 billion in health care costs after spending $1.8 billion on tobacco control – a 50-to-1 ROI (return on investment) during the first 15 years of the program.

Even occasional smoking is bad for your health – you are better off not smoking at all.

Every cigarette you smoke damages cells throughout your body, your lungs and blood vessels. The longer you are an occasional smoker, the more you damage your health.

Of all the Americans who have ever smoked, more are non-smokers today than smokers. This should serve as an inspiration for current smokers who wonder whether giving up is too difficult. It is not!! It can be difficult, but millions have shown it is possible.

Tobacco contains nicotine, a very addictive drug. If cigarettes had no nicotine in them, most smokers today would not be smoking. Even when a smoker wants to quit, nicotine addiction keeps him/her faithfully lighting up.

Cigarette companies spend approximately $27 million each day promoting and advertising their products. 72% of this promotional money is spent on discounts to compensate for taxation and other tobacco control policies.

Written by Christian Nordqvist