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More Americans Smoking

Rates tick up slightly after holding steady for 5 years

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 12, 2009 8:29 PM CST

(Newser) – The number of smokers has ticked up a notch after five years of decline or holding steady. The percentage of Americans who light up rose from 19.8% in 2007 to 20.6% in 2008, a CDC report says. The longer-term picture is better: Since 1998, the percentage has dropped from 24.1%. But "rates have shown virtually no change" over the last five years, the report says. Men (23%) are more likely to be smokers than women (18%), notes US News & World Report.

"Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death in the US, and we know what to do," said CDC chief Thomas Frieden. "We want to provide support to states and localities to implement proven programs, and if we do that, we can save literally millions of lives in the decades to come."

Camel cigarettes.
Camel cigarettes.   (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 31 comments
yellowjeep
Nov 14, 2009 7:07 AM CST
I don't care if a person does it either. I could not careless but I do care when people start spouting ignorant bullshit like "there is not a correlation between mouth cancer and dip"
donnz
Nov 13, 2009 11:50 AM CST
Smoking is a cinder in the eye of authority. smoking is a prop, to look cool, gesticulate, flick your bic, & stamp out your butt. Smoking is taking a minute to yourself or share with others that feel the same way you do. The down side is, bad breath, stinky hair & clothes that the smoker no longer smells, because his sinuses are burnt out. The wheezing, and oxygen tanks with a hose to your nose comes later.
Thinker
Nov 13, 2009 10:40 AM CST
So what about mouth cancer? Frankly, I don't care if someone shoots up next to me, as long as they don't force me to imbibe, why should I care what they do? I totally support anything anyone wants to do as long as I am not forced to breathe it, hear it, eat it or drink it. I can always turn my eyes away if I don't like it.

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