Tobacco
The topic of Tobacco includes current use of tobacco products, initiation, cessation, secondhand
smoke, and tobacco-related policy. Tobacco use must be examined from all angles, because it is
the single most preventable cause of death and disease in the United
States.1
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Annual smoking-attributable
mortality, years of potential life lost, and economic costs-United States, 1995-1999. MMWR.
2002;51(14):300-3, downloaded on 8/6/2014 from
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5114a2.htm.
Tobacco use accounts for one of every five deaths in the United States, approximately 480,000 people
each year. Furthermore, for each person who dies from tobacco use, another 33 will suffer from a
tobacco-related illness. Tobacco use has been linked to diseases in nearly every organ. The national
economic cost in medical expenses and lost productivity is over $289 billion
annually.2
2. The Health Consequences of Smoking-50 Years of Progress: A Report of the
Surgeon General. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, 2014, downloaded on 8/6/2014 from
http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/sgr/50th-anniversary/index.htm.
After decades of study, much is known about tobacco use in the United States:
- In 2017, 14.0% of adults (34.3 million people) were current cigarette smokers: 15.8% of men and 12.2% of women.3
- Tobacco product use is started and established primarily during adolescence.4
- Each day, about 2,000 people younger than 18 years smoke their first cigarette.
- Each day, over 300 people younger than 18 years become daily cigarette smokers.
- In 2018, about 7 of every 100 middle school students (7.2%) and about 27 of every 100 high school students (27.1%) reported current use of a tobacco product.4
- In 2013, nearly 18 of every 100 middle school students (17.7%) and nearly half (46.0%) of high school students said they had ever tried a tobacco product.4
- Quitting tobacco use greatly decreases a person's risk for many negative health outcomes, some within a very short time after stopping.
- There is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke; even brief exposure can be damaging to health.
- Smoke-free laws are an effective approach to reduce exposure to secondhand smoke and to reduce the prevalence of tobacco use.5
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fast Facts. Smoking and
Tobacco Use. Accessed 2/22/2019 at
https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/fast_facts/index.htm.
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Youth and Tobacco Use. Accessed 2/22/2019 at https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/youth_data/tobacco_use/index.htm.
5. Hopkins DP, Razi S, Leeks KD, et al. Task force on community preventive services: Smoke-free policies to reduce tobacco use: A systematic review. Am J Prev Med. 2010;38(2 Suppl):S275-89, downloaded on 8/6/2014 from http://www.thecommunityguide.org/tobacco/Worksite2010Smokefree_Hopkins.pdf.
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Youth and Tobacco Use. Accessed 2/22/2019 at https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/youth_data/tobacco_use/index.htm.
5. Hopkins DP, Razi S, Leeks KD, et al. Task force on community preventive services: Smoke-free policies to reduce tobacco use: A systematic review. Am J Prev Med. 2010;38(2 Suppl):S275-89, downloaded on 8/6/2014 from http://www.thecommunityguide.org/tobacco/Worksite2010Smokefree_Hopkins.pdf.
Everyone is susceptible to the negative consequences of tobacco use. However, some disparities exist.
Tobacco use is more prevalent among:6
- Men
- Persons aged 45-64 years
- Non-Hispanics
- Persons with low household income
- Persons with lower education level
- Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) persons
6. Agaku IT, King BA, Husten CG, et al. Tobacco product use among adults -
United States, 2012-2013. MMWR. 2014;63(25):542-7, downloaded on 8/6/2014 from
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6325a3.htm?s_cid=mm6325a3_w.
The most effective way to reduce the risk of tobacco-related illness and death is to avoid using
tobacco products. However, secondhand smoke still increases the risk of disease. Policies that ban
smoking indoors, in public locations, and in vehicles with children can help reduce the risk to
everyone.
Tobacco use is tracked using a range of surveys. Some examples include:
For more information on tracking tobacco use health objectives, please visit the Healthy People 2020 Tobacco Use objectives page.
- National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH)
- National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)
- National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)
- Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBS)
- Monitoring the Future (MTF)
- State Tobacco Activities Tracking and Evaluation System (STATE)
For more information on tracking tobacco use health objectives, please visit the Healthy People 2020 Tobacco Use objectives page.
Current Cigarette Smoking - Adults (BRFSS)
Tobacco - Adolescents
- Lifetime Cigarette Use (YRBS)
- Smoked a Whole Cigarette Before Age 13 Years (YRBS)
- Current Cigarette Use (YRBS)
- 30-day Smoking (PNA)
- Cigarette Use on School Property (YRBS)
- Tried to Quit Smoking (YRBS)
- Current Smokeless Tobacco Use (YRBS)
- 30-day Smokeless Tobacco (PNA)
- Current Cigar Use (YRBS)
- Current Tobacco Use (YRBS)
- Anti-tobacco Ad Recall (PNA)
- Anti-tobacco Lesson (PNA)
- Live with Someone Who Smokes (PNA)
- Same Room with Someone Who Smokes (PNA)
Smoking Cessation Attempt - Adults (BRFSS)
E-Cigarette Use - Adults (BRFSS)
- Ever E-Cigarette Use - Crude Rates
- Ever E-Cigarette Use - Age-adjusted Rates
- Current E-Cigarette Use - Crude Rates
- Current E-Cigarette Use - Age-adjusted Rates
E-Cigarette/Vape Use - Adolescents
- Used an Electronic Vapor Product (YRBS)
- Used an Electronic Vapor Product on One or More of the Past 30 Days (YRBS)
- 30-day vape product use (PNA)
- Use Vape Products Containing Marijuana (PNA)
- Use Vape Products Containing Nicotine (PNA)
Smokeless Tobacco Use - Adults (BRFSS)
Anyone Smoked in Your Home Past 30 Days - Adults (BRFSS)
- Anyone Smoked in Your Home Past 30 Days - Crude Rates
- Anyone Smoked in Your Home Past 30 Days - Age-adjusted Rates