Smoking rates in the U.S. have continually decreased over time thanks to successes of widespread public health information campaigns and policy measures to prevent and reduce tobacco use. Despite the overall reduction in smoking rates over time, millions of U.S. adults continue to smoke tobacco cigarettes. The
nicotine in tobacco is highly addictive, making it difficult for many to stop or reduce smoking.
Smoking has been linked to a number of diseases and chronic conditions such as lung cancer, stroke, and diabetes, as well as increasing the risk of tuberculosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and other adverse health conditions. Smoking also impacts the health non-smokers, with exposure to secondhand smoke
linked to increased cancer risk and
childhood asthma. Ongoing surveillance of adult smoking rates in the U.S. is a critical step in identifying populations more prone to smoking and can help inform efforts to eradicate smoking altogether.
Adult Smoking Rates Over Time, by State, and More: Breakdowns and Data Source
State Health Compare presents annual, state-level smoking rates, specifically rates of adults who smoke traditional tobacco cigarettes based on findings from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). BRFSS defines smoking as individuals who smoked 100 or more cigarettes in their lifetime and who currently smoke some days or every day.
Five breakdowns are available for this measure: Age, Coverage Type, Education, Race/Ethnicity, and Sexual Orientation.
