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Div. of Media Relations
1600 Clifton Road
MS D-14
Atlanta, GA 30333
(404) 639-3286
Fax (404) 639-7394 |
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Press Release
Embargoed Until
May 26, 2005, Noon ET |
Contact: CDC National Center
for Chronic
Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Office of Communication
770-488-5131 |
The Percentage of U.S. Adults Who Smoke
Continues to Decline
World No Tobacco Day is May 31
The percentage of U.S. adults who smoke cigarettes continues to decline,
according to an article in this week’s issue of CDC’s Morbidity and
Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). The study, which uses data from the 2003
National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), finds that approximately 21.6
percent of U.S. adults – over 45 million people – are current smokers. That’s
down from 22.5 percent in 2002 and 22.8 percent in 2001. The study also found
that the 46 million adults who have quit smoking outnumber the 45 million
people who continue to smoke – the second straight year this has happened.
“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. “We encourage more people to take this very important
step to improve their overall health and reduce their risk of disease. We
also have resources available to help, including 1-800-Quit Now.”
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.
An event designed to help raise awareness of the dangers of tobacco –
World No Tobacco Day – takes place on May 31. This year the focus is on
the role of health care professionals in preventing tobacco use. As a second
MMWR article reports, while the majority (72 percent to 99 percent) of
dental, medical, nursing and pharmacy students from 10 countries believe they
should receive training in counseling patients to quit smoking, only a small
percentage (5 percent – 37 percent) say they are receiving formal training to
do that. The report is collaboration between CDC, the World Health
Organization (WHO), and the Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA).
The report is the first of its kind to collect data on tobacco use by
health profession students from Albania, Argentina, Bangladesh, Federation of
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Egypt, India, Philippines, Republic of
Serbia and Uganda, as well as their attitudes toward tobacco use and about
receiving training in smoking cessation counseling.
In addition, the report finds current smoking rates among third-year
health profession students is above 20 percent in seven of the 10 countries
studied.
“All health care professionals, from doctors and nurses to pharmacists and
dentists, can play a role in preventing and reducing tobacco use,” said Wick
Warren, Ph.D., researcher in CDC’s Global Tobacco Control Program. “Along
with providing resources and information, they can serve as role models to
promote a tobacco-free lifestyle. This study indicates, though, we must also
be encouraging future health professionals to not smoke or to quit smoking.”
For copies of the full MMWR articles, visit
www.cdc.gov/mmwr. For more information
about World No Tobacco Day, visit the World Health Organization at
www.who.int/tobacco/communications/events/wntd/2005/en.
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