Tobacco Product Use Among Adults—United States, 2013–2014

July 15, 2016 / Vol. 65 / 27

MMWR Introduction

While significant declines in cigarette smoking have occurred among US adults during the past five decades, the use of emerging tobacco products has increased in recent years. To estimate tobacco use among US adults aged ≥18 years, CDC analyzed data from the 2013–2014 National Adult Tobacco Survey. During 2013–2014, 21.3% of US adults used a tobacco product every day or some days, while 25.5% used a tobacco product every day, some days, or rarely. Despite progress in reducing cigarette smoking, cigarettes remained the most commonly used tobacco product among adults during 2013–2014. Young adults aged 18–24 years reported the highest prevalence of use of emerging tobacco products, including water-pipes/hookahs and electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes). Furthermore, differences in use of any tobacco product were observed, with higher use reported among males; non-Hispanics; peoples aged <45 years; living in the South; with a General Educational Development certificate; with annual household income <$20,000; and who were lesbian, gay, or bisexual.

Continued implementation of proven population-based interventions, including increasing tobacco product prices, implementing and enforcing comprehensive smoke-free laws, warning about the dangers of tobacco use through high-impact public education media campaigns, and increasing access to help quitting tobacco use, can help reduce tobacco use and tobacco-related disease and death. Additionally, regulatory authority over the manufacture, marketing, and sales of tobacco products are important tools to further reduce tobacco-related disease and death in the United States.