Current Tobacco Use Among Adults in the United States: Findings From the National Adult Tobacco Surv

King BA, Dube SR, Tynan MA. Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print September 20, 2012: e1–e8.

This study used data from the 2009–2010 National Adult Tobacco Survey to estimate current use of any tobacco. National prevalence of current use was 25.2% for any tobacco; 19.5% for cigarettes; 6.6% for cigars, cigarillos, or small cigars; 3.4% for chewing tobacco, snuff, or dip; 1.5% for water pipes; 1.4% for snus; and 1.1% for pipes. The report concludes that tobacco use varies by geography and sociodemographic factors, but remains prevalent among US adults and shows the continuing need for evidence-based strategies that are proven to reduce all forms of tobacco use. Findings indicate that tobacco use is most prevalent among Americans with less education, less income, and those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. Young adults aged 18-24 had the highest prevalence of tobacco use, and tobacco use among men was nearly double that among women. Prevalence of any tobacco use ranged from 14.1 percent in Utah to 37.4 percent in Kentucky. Report authors note that evidence-based strategies, such as tobacco price increases, media campaigns, and smoke-free policies, in concert with full access to clinical cessation interventions, have been shown to decrease tobacco use and reduce the health burden and economic impact of tobacco-related diseases in the United States.