Cigarettes (Table 9.4)

One-fifth of the total population aged 12 or older (20%) reported at least one problem in the past year associated with smoking cigarettes, 15% had two or more problems, and 11% had three or more problems. Among past year cigarette smokers, 60%, or an estimated 43 million smokers, had at least one problem, 46% (32 million) had two or more problems, and 33% (23 million) had three or more problems with cigarettes. Among heavy smokers (defined as currently smoking about a pack or more a day), more than three out of four reported one problem (77%), 62% reported two or more problems, and 46% reported three or more problems.

The most frequently cited problem among heavy smokers was wanting or trying to stop or cut down but not being able to do so (58%), followed by spending a great deal of time getting or using cigarettes or getting over the effects of cigarettes (55%), and smoking more cigarettes or smoking for longer periods than intended (49%). Among youths aged 12 to 17 who were heavy smokers, however, nearly 80% reported tolerance to the effects of cigarettes. In comparison for heavy smokers in other age groups, about 60% of young adults aged 18 to 25, fewer than half of adults aged 26 to 34, and only about one-third of adults aged 35 or older reported tolerance to the effects of cigarettes.

This page was last updated on December 30, 2008.