CDC report shows decrease in US tobacco product use

Mar.23.2022
CDC report shows decrease in US tobacco product use
CDC's survey showed a decrease in overall tobacco product usage among American adults, but 19% still use some form of tobacco.

According to foreign media on March 17, 2022, report that...

 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released the findings of their weekly report on incidence and mortality rates today, revealing an overall decrease in the use of commercial tobacco products, combustible tobacco products, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and two or more tobacco products among U.S. adults from 2019 to 2020. However, as of 2020, nearly one-fifth of adults (estimated 47.1 million) reported current (daily or some days) tobacco product use, including 30.8 million smokers.

 

In order to assess recent estimates of tobacco product use among adult Americans aged 18 and over, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) analyzed data from the 2020 National Health Interview Survey. The survey evaluated the use of five tobacco products: cigarettes, cigars (cigars, small cigars, or filtered little cigars), pipes (regular pipes, water pipes, or hookahs), electronic cigarettes, and smokeless tobacco.

 

A recent study has found that by 2020, 19.0% of American adults will have used at least one tobacco product, which is slightly lower than the 20.8% reported in 2019. Despite this decrease, cigarettes remain the most commonly used product at 12.5%, followed by e-cigarettes at 3.7%, cigars at 3.5%, smokeless tobacco at 2.3%, and pipes at 1.1%.

 

We have made significant progress in preventing and reducing tobacco use in this country through the use of validated strategies and implementation of effective policies," said Dr. Karen Hacker, director of the CDC's National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. "Although adult tobacco use has dramatically decreased, our work is far from over. We must continue to address tobacco-related health disparities and inequities to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to be as healthy as possible.

 

Despite a decrease, the usage of combustible products remains high.

 

A new study reveals that smoking rates among adults have dropped to their lowest point since 1965, when it was 42%. While the percentage of adults who smoke has decreased from 14.0% in 2019 to 12.5% in 2020, nearly 31 million American adults still reported smoking in 2020. Among adults who currently use tobacco products, over three-quarters use combustible products like cigarettes, cigars, and pipes, which are the leading cause of tobacco-related illness, disability, and death in the United States.

 

In the United States, between 2019 and 2020, there was a decrease in the percentage of adults using other tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, which went from 4.5% to 3.7%. The use of combustible tobacco products also decreased from 16.7% to 15.2%. Additionally, the percentage of people using two or more tobacco products also decreased from 3.9% to 3.3%.

 

Factors that may contribute to a decline in smoking and tobacco use include influential anti-tobacco media campaigns such as the CDC's "Tips From Former Smokers," smoke-free policies, and policies that restrict the supply of specific types of tobacco products, such as flavored products.

 

Differences in the use of tobacco products

 

By 2020, significant differences still exist in the use of tobacco products among various adult population groups in the United States. These groups include:

 

Men (5%).

 

Nine percent of adults aged 25 to 44 years old.

 

34.9% of adult non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native individuals and 1% of adult non-Hispanic individuals are classified as belonging to other races.

 

Three percent of adults live in rural (non-urban) areas.

 

The highest level of education attained by adults is a General Educational Development (GED) certificate, which accounts for 40.5%.

 

25.2% of adults have a household annual income less than $35,000.

 

Adults who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual (1%).

 

27.3% of adults do not have health insurance, while 6% rely on Medicaid or other forms of subsidized health insurance.

 

Four percent of adults have disabilities.

 

Nearly 30% of adults experience anxiety and 6% experience depression on a regular basis.

 

(Source: Center for Disease Control)

 


Disclaimer

This article is provided solely for professional research, industry discussion, and informational purposes. Any references to brands, companies, products, technologies, or policies are made for factual reporting and analytical purposes only, and do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, promotion, or advertising by 2Firsts.

Nicotine-containing products, including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, carry significant health risks. Readers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions, including age restrictions and access limitations.

The information contained in this article should not be regarded as investment, legal, medical, regulatory, or commercial advice. While 2Firsts strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its content, it does not assume liability for any direct or indirect loss arising from errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or reliance on the information contained herein.

This article is not intended for individuals below the legal age for accessing tobacco or nicotine-related information in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright Notice

This article is either original content produced by 2Firsts or content reproduced, translated, summarized, or adapted from third-party sources with attribution where applicable. The intellectual property rights of the original content remain with 2Firsts or the respective original rights holders.

No individual or organization may copy, reproduce, distribute, republish, modify, translate, or otherwise use this content without prior authorization. Any unauthorized use may result in legal action.

For copyright-related inquiries, corrections, or removal requests, please contact: info@2firsts.com.

 

AI-Assisted Translation and Editing Notice

Portions of this article may have been translated, edited, or reviewed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency and readability. Due to the limitations of AI-assisted translation and editing, discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies may exist when compared with the original source.

Where applicable, readers are advised to refer to the original source for the most complete and accurate information. If you identify any errors or believe that any content infringes upon your rights, please contact us at info@2firsts.com, and we will review and address the matter promptly.

Canada Health Minister Says She Is Not Considering Looser Nicotine Pouch Retail Rules as PMI-Linked Group Pushes for Wider Access
Canada Health Minister Says She Is Not Considering Looser Nicotine Pouch Retail Rules as PMI-Linked Group Pushes for Wider Access
Canadian Health Minister Marjorie Michel says she is not considering loosening retail restrictions on nicotine pouches. Canada regulates pouches containing 4 mg or less of nicotine per unit as non-prescription nicotine replacement therapy and requires newer NRT formats such as pouches to be sold from behind pharmacy counters. Meanwhile, Unsmoke Canada, linked to Philip Morris International's Canadian business, is pushing to allow pouches in convenience stores and other general retail outlets. Health Canada also acknowledges continued unauthorized sales, while recent research shows rising pouch use among Canadian youth aged 16 to 19.
Sep.24
EU Commission Clarifies Vaping, Smokeless Nicotine Use in Proposed Cardiovascular Checks
EU Commission Clarifies Vaping, Smokeless Nicotine Use in Proposed Cardiovascular Checks
The European Commission has clarified to 2Firsts that its proposed cardiovascular health checks would assess smoking, vaping and the use of smokeless nicotine products as part of patients’ medical histories. The Commission also said Member States may organise additional checks within their healthcare systems. In the same response, it pointed to JRC research on e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products and nicotine pouches that has fed into the evaluation of EU tobacco legislation.
Nov.09
U.S. Health Groups Seek to Overturn FDA Enforcement Discretion for Pending PMTAs as Altria's Helix, NJOY and AVM Move to Intervene
U.S. Health Groups Seek to Overturn FDA Enforcement Discretion for Pending PMTAs as Altria's Helix, NJOY and AVM Move to Intervene
American Vapor Manufacturers (AVM) and Altria subsidiaries Helix Innovations and NJOY filed separate motions on October 7, 2026, seeking to intervene on the FDA's side in a lawsuit challenging its enforcement guidance for certain e-cigarette and nicotine pouch products with pending premarket tobacco product applications (PMTAs). Seven public health and tobacco-control organizations, including the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, sued the agency in July to overturn the policy. AVM argues that vacating the guidance could disrupt orders, inventory, retail distribution and investments in regulatory submissions.
Regulations
Oct.09
UK Extends Age-18 Rules to Zero-Nicotine Vapes and Nicotine Pouches From Oct. 29, Bans Vending Machines and Promotional Giveaways
UK Extends Age-18 Rules to Zero-Nicotine Vapes and Nicotine Pouches From Oct. 29, Bans Vending Machines and Promotional Giveaways
Key provisions of the UK's Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 will take effect on Oct. 29, extending an age-18 sales restriction to all vaping and non-medicinal nicotine products. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the change brings zero-nicotine vapes within statutory age-of-sale rules and also covers products including nicotine pouches, strips and pearls. The law will also prohibit proxy purchasing for under-18s, consumer-facing vending machines, promotional giveaways and substantial discounts intended to promote vaping and nicotine products.
Regulations
Oct.10
Product | KIWI Launches Spark 2 and Spark 2 Pro in Germany, Two Hardware Tiers Share Backward-Compatible 2ml Pods
Product | KIWI Launches Spark 2 and Spark 2 Pro in Germany, Two Hardware Tiers Share Backward-Compatible 2ml Pods
KIWI has launched the Spark 2 and Spark 2 Pro refillable pod systems in Germany at official prices of €18 and €29, respectively. Spark 2 uses an 800mAh removable lithium-ion battery in a pen-style body, while Spark 2 Pro features a 1,400mAh removable battery, a box-shaped design and vibration feedback every 20 puffs. Both devices use the same 2ml Spark V2 pods in 0.8Ω and 1.2Ω versions, with AirSync airflow adjustment and a choice between Cotton Tips and conventional Drip Tips. The new pods also remain compatible with the original KIWI Spark.
News
Sep.29 by 2Firsts Perspectives
Global Nicotine-Pouch E-Commerce Group Haypp Shuts Sweden’s Snusnetto Over Age Verification as Identity Checks Become Industry Infrastructure for New Nicotine Products
Global Nicotine-Pouch E-Commerce Group Haypp Shuts Sweden’s Snusnetto Over Age Verification as Identity Checks Become Industry Infrastructure for New Nicotine Products
Sweden's Supreme Administrative Court has declined to hear an appeal over age verification for tobacco and nicotine products collected from parcel lockers, leaving in place a lower-court ruling that geo-located BankID verification is insufficient to securely verify the actual recipient. Haypp Group has stopped tobacco and nicotine sales through Snusnetto and is deploying a new system across its other Swedish e-commerce sites to verify the age of the person who actually opens the locker and receives the shipment. The change comes as age verification across next-generation nicotine products expands from purchase checks into retail, delivery and, for some e-cigarettes, device access itself.
Regulations
Oct.20