Figure
8.1. Prevalence of current smoking among adults aged 18 years and over:
United States,
1997-2001
NOTES: Current smokers
were defined as those who smoked more than 100 cigarettes in their
lifetime and now smoke every day or some days. The analysis excluded
people with unknown smoking status. CI is confidence interval.
DATA SOURCE: Sample
Adult Core component of the 1997-2001 National Health Interview Surveys.
In
2001, 22.8% (95% CI = 22.2% - 23.4%) of adults aged 18 years and over were
current smokers, continuing a decline in the prevalence of current smoking
among adults in the United States.
The
prevalence of current smoking among U.S. adults has declined over time
from 24.7% in 1997 to 24.1% in 1998, 23.5% in 1999, 23.3% in 2000, and
22.8% in 2001.