Cigarette smoking in US drops to record low

Health & Fitness
28 Mar 2026 • 5:55 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • Cigarette smoking among American adults reached a record low of 9.8 percent in 2024, continuing a 60-year decline.
  • Despite this reduction, nearly 18.8 percent of Americans still use at least one tobacco product, indicating a shift to other forms.
  • The American Lung Association is calling for renewed federal efforts and FDA oversight to counter the overall use of tobacco products.
  • E-cigarette use is on the rise, particularly among younger adults, with 13 percent reporting regular use and 1.63 million middle and high school students using them in 2024.
  • Health experts warn that e-cigarettes are unsafe, containing addictive nicotine and harmful chemicals, and can lead to the use of traditional tobacco products.

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