Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

Percentage of Women Smokers Reaches Historic Low

The percentage of U.S. adults who smoke cigarettes continues to decline, according to data from the 2003 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) reported in the Center for Disease Control's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Notably, for the first time since the NHIS began collecting smoking data in 1965, the prevalence of cigarette smoking among women declined below 20%, to 19.2%.

Further, data from the 2003 survey finds that approximately 21.6% of U.S. adults—over 45 million people—are current smokers. That's down from 22.5% in 2002 and 22.8% in 2001. The study also found that, for the second straight year, the 46 million adults who have quit smoking outnumber the 45 million people who continue to smoke.

"The continuing decline in cigarette smoking by Americans is good news and we congratulate those who've successfully stopped smoking," said CDC Director Dr. Julie Gerberding. Nonetheless, the study points out that more efforts and programs are needed to reduce the continuing disparities in cigarette smoking by age, race/ethnicity, and educational levels.

Source: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

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