NATIONAL NEWS - Decline in U.S. Smoking Rate Levels Off

November 9, 2007

For the first time since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began keeping statistics over 40 years ago, the decline in the U.S. smoking rate has leveled off for three consecutive years.  The rate declined 15 percent between 1997 to 2004, but has remained constant since then.  Currently, 20.8 percent of American adults smoke.  Additionally, the rate for U.S. high school students increased slightly in the past three years.  "Anytime we are not seeing a decline, it's a cause of real concern to us," said Corrine Husten, head of the epidemiology branch of the CDC's Office on Smoking and Health. "Smoking is the biggest cause of preventable disease we have, and we need to bring down the rates as quickly as we possibly can."

For more on this story from the Washington Post, click here.

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