TOBACCO AND NICOTINE USE

Smoking cigarettes has long been a significant public health concern due to its strong association with chronic disease and premature death. Our data show that between 1999 and 2017, smoking rates declined across all age groups, with the oldest population (aged 65-75 and older) consistently showing the lowest percentages.

Smoking is negatively associated with age, education, and income, meaning older, more educated, and higher-income individuals are less likely to report being current smokers. Notably, Americans aged 25-54 with less than a high school education saw the largest reduction in smoking rates during this period.

That said, some notable differences in smoking rates still exist. Across all age groups, married individuals smoked less on average than their unmarried counterparts. In addition, between 1999 and 2017 there has been a slight increase in the percentage of smokers among young middle-aged adults who have the lowest income.