CDC & FDA Study Reports 1 in 5 US Adults Used Tobacco Products in 2015

New data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Tobacco Products in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report shows 1 in 5 U.S. adults used some form of tobacco product in 2015. The findings indicate more action is required to reduce tobacco-related disease and death in the US.

The data from the 2015 National Health Interview Survey found 9.5 million US American adults reported “every day” or “some day” use of two or more tobacco products. Among all adults, cigarettes were the most commonly used product (15.1%); followed by e-cigarettes (3.5%); cigars, cigarillos, or filtered little cigars (3.4%); smokeless tobacco (2.3%); and pipes, water pipes, or hookahs (1.2%).

Additionally, the use of any tobacco product was determined to be more common among adults ages 25–44 years (23.3 %) than among those ages 65 years and older (11.1%). The study also found smoking was more common among males than among females.

The CDC recommends full implementation of comprehensive state tobacco control programs, in conjunction with FDA regulation of tobacco products. Targeted interventions to reach subpopulations with the greatest burden of use are also advised.