FRIDAY, Oct. 27 (HealthDay News) -- Data from a 2005 survey indicates that 20.9 percent of U.S. adults smoke cigarettes, a finding that could mean the number of adult smokers in the United States has not declined for the first time in eight years, according to a report in the Oct. 27 issue of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analyzed National Health Interview Survey data to measure progress toward the Healthy People 2010 tobacco use goals in adults -- reductions in cigarette smoking to 12 percent, cigar smoking to 1.2 percent, smokeless tobacco to 0.4 percent and increases in smoking cessation attempts to 75 percent.
The data suggest that 20.9 percent of people smoke cigarettes, the same amount as in 2004. This finding could mean the eight-year smoking decrease may have stalled. Other findings indicate that 2.2 percent smoke cigars, 2.3 percent use smokeless tobacco, and 42.5 percent of current cigarette smokers stopped smoking for at least one day in an attempt to quit.
"To meet the Healthy People objectives for 2010, full implementation of effective, comprehensive tobacco-control programs that address both initiation and cessation of tobacco use is needed in all states and U.S. territories," the report states.
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