The number of smokers in the US hit a new low last year, as one in nine adults said they actively smoke, a new survey found.
The results of the research by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are based on a survey of more than 27.000 adults.
The number of smokers has been declining for decades, as a result of higher tobacco taxes, increased prices of tobacco products, smoking bans and awareness of the dangers of smoking.
In the mid-1960s, there were 42 percent of smokers in the US, and last year only 11 percent. In 2020 and 2021, there were 12,5 percent of smokers.
Cigarette smoking is a risk factor for lung cancer, heart disease and stroke and is considered the leading cause of preventable deaths.
On the other hand, the research showed that the use of electronic cigarettes, which is used by every 17th adult, has increased.
The number of users of electronic cigarettes in the USA increased last year to almost six percent, while in 2021 it was 4,5 percent.
About two percent of American high school students smoke traditional cigarettes, while 14 percent use electronic cigarettes, according to data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
The increase in the use of electronic cigarettes, through which nicotine is also introduced into the body, worries doctors. The American Heart Association states that nicotine addiction can have health consequences, such as the risk of high blood pressure and narrowing of the arteries.
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