Cigarette Smoking Decreasing--Statistics

A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association tracked cigarette smoking prevalence from 1965 to 2007,  in California and the United States.  The population-based surveys included National Health Interview Surveys, 1965-1994, and Current Population Survey Tobacco Supplements, 1992-2007.  There were 139,176 total respondents for California and 1,622,353 for the remaining United States.  Researchers found:  1965--20 or more cigarettes/day:  23.2% of California population, 22.9% of US population 2007--20 or more cigarettes/day:  2.6% California, 7.2% US 1965--10 to 20/day:  11.1% California, 10.5% US 2007--10 to 20/day:  3.4% California, 5.4% US.  The researchers also broke down groups depending upon the decade during which they were born, from 1920-1929 to 1970-1979.  People born in each successive decade showed lower smoking prevalence.  The authors said:  "the large decline in the prevalence of smoking has been reflected in declines in lung cancer deaths in California and the United States."  Over the past 40 years, patterns of smoking have changed dramatically to reflect:  fewer people starting smoking those who do smoke reducing the amount of smoking more people quitting smoking.  The authors credited the reductions in the dissemination of scientific reports that smoking caused cancer and public policies to reduce smoking.


Source:  JAMA.2011;305(11):1106-1112


Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309