Smoking rate among US adults drops to record low as vape use rises: CDC
abcnews.com • • health
Key Points:
- Cigarette smoking among U.S. adults dropped to a record low of nearly 10% in 2024, down from about 11% in 2023, continuing a decades-long decline since the 1964 Surgeon General report highlighted smoking's dangers.
- E-cigarette use among adults rose to 7% in 2024, up from 6.5% in 2023 and nearly double the 3.7% reported in 2020, with higher usage in rural areas and among younger adults aged 18 to 24.
- Experts caution that while e-cigarettes may be less harmful than traditional cigarettes, their long-term health effects remain unclear, and they contain harmful chemicals and toxins.
- The rise in vaping has complicated efforts to achieve a tobacco-free generation, as many young adults who vape have never smoked cigarettes, with some becoming addicted to products like JUUL.
- Smoking rates remain higher in rural areas (over 15%) compared to cities, and demographic groups such as men, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those with psychological distress report higher e-cigarette use.
