Adult smoking rate in US is falling fast

[Jesus Malverde]

The nation seems to be kicking its smoking habit faster than ever before.

The rate of smoking among adults in the U.S. fell to 15 percent last year thanks to the biggest one-year decline in more than 20 years, according to a new government report.

The rate fell 2 percentage points from 2014, when about 17 percent of adults in a large national survey said they had recently smoked.

snip


The increased marketing of electronic cigarettes and their growing popularity has also likely played a role. But it is not yet clear whether this will help further propel the decline in smoking, or contribute to an increase in smoking in years to come.

http://www.sfgate.com/news/medical/article/Officials-report-biggest-fall-in-adult-smoking-in-7940899.php

[Jeffersons Ghost]

1. after being diagnosed with emphysema, I quit smoking over 6 months ago k&r. thanks

[Binkie The Clown]

2. 6+ years not smoking for me.

I quit the day my late wife got her lung cancer diagnosis.

I don't recommend that as a way to motivate yourself, but it did work.

[alcibiades_mystery]

14. 4+ years for me

I quit because I looked at my small children one day and thought how selfish I was to care about cigarettes more than them, which is what smoking amounted to. I also hated that I was making southern Republicans rich every time I bought a pack.

Sorry to hear about your late wife.

[Skittles]

3. I quit for good after many attempts

if I had to say the #1 motivation for me, it was non-smokers - coworkers and friends, they drove me nuts - smoking became a lot of work

[RogueTrooper]

6. I quite (again) more than two years ago

and having nobody to smoke with was a big motivator. Wheezing up a flight of stairs also

I don't miss smoking but I do miss being young and smoking and being able to smoke anywhere - in airplanes, at the movies - but now I am glad I don't have to put up with the stink in these places.

[Skittles]

10. it was a different time, wasn't it

some good, some bad but it's strange how you don't know the good old days when you're actually living them - heh, I guess that's part of "youth is wasted on the young"

[EL34x4]

9. Yep. Social pressure worked for me as well.

Especially from my kids. It's just harder and harder to be a smoker in America these days.

After 30 years, I quit cold turkey almost 6 months ago. No vaping, patches, pills, gum, anything. Feels great.

[Wounded Bear]

4. I quit during the Carter administration...

so I guess I set the curve.

[Downwinder]

5. Have to find something else to fund SCHIP.

[EL34x4]

8. Don't worry. They will.

I suspect taxes on junk food will be next.

[Warpy]

7. When you have to choose between cigarettes and enough food

that your stomach doesn't hurt all the time, the butts start to lose their allure.

Top Ramen will last a working adult only so long.

[Lurks Often]

11. The rising cost for a pack of cigarettes is also a factor

When I quit 10+ years ago, a pack of cigarettes was $4 or $5, now it is running $8 to $10 a pack.

[Vinca]

12. I don't see how anyone can afford to smoke.

[alcibiades_mystery]

13. Taxes on dangerous products and bar and restaurant bans change social behavior

The libertarians squealed and yelled, but the smoking bans in bars and restaurants hurt literally nobody, and helped many.

You can affect social life and public health through policy.

Surprise, surprise.

[bigwillq]

15. I smoke but support the bans in restaurants and bars

I live in CT, where we have such laws, and I really like it. Smoking is permitted on outdoor patios in said bars and restaurants.

If folks want to smoke, they can just go outside. I don't see the big deal. Don't like it? Then stay home, where you can smoke as much as you want, anywhere you want.

[alcibiades_mystery]

16. I supported them when I smoked, too

I quit in January of 2012.

[bigwillq]

17. Good for you!

I'm trying to get there. I said by 40. Year and a half to go.

[alcibiades_mystery]

18. Haha

I was 38.

[bigwillq]

19. ....

So, there is hope for me.

I have such a love-hate with it. Quit several times, including once for a year. I need to go to rehab. Lol

[Giggity]

23. Looking through peoples internet searches without warrants wouldn't hurt anybody.

Illegalizing all abortions except for medical reasons wouldn't hurt anybody.

Doesn't mean I'm for these things.
Are you?

(Further, I would credit Chantex and education far more than restaurant bans and sin taxes.)

[MrScorpio]

20. 54 years smoke free and going. nt

[Beausoir]

21. 4 months quit. Again. Chantix.

Quit for 12 years. Started smoking again for two. Quit again for 8 years. Started smoking again for 4 months. Just quit again,

Never EVER pick one up again. Smoking is the devil. What a beast.

[GulfCoast66]

22. I am the biggest dumbass here!

I quit for a year when I was 30(50 now). Was not too hard.

Then a year later, like an idiot, I started dipping Copenhagen and it was almost impossible to quit. Took Chantix to get it done and it worked. 5 years ago.

I have no desire to ever smoke again. But I will miss dipping till the day I die.