Kicking the habit: Adult smoking rate in US is falling fast


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NEW YORK (AP) — The smoking rate among U.S. adults has been falling steadily for decades but the latest survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds the 2015 decline is the biggest in more than 20 years.

The government report says the rate of smoking among adults in the U.S. fell two percent, to 15 percent last year, from 17 percent in 2014.

The usual decline is 1 point or less in a year and it's not clear why last year was different.

Smoking is the nation's leading cause of preventable illness and the CDC estimates it causes more than 480,000 U.S. deaths each year.

About 50 years ago, roughly 42 percent of U.S. adults smoked. Experts attribute recent declines to the anti-smoking advertising campaigns, cigarette taxes and smoking bans.

The role of electronic cigarettes is unclear.

Sound:

%@AP Links

281-v-33-(Ross Simpson, AP correspondent)--The nation seems to be kicking its smoking habit faster than ever before. AP correspondent Ross Simpson reports. (23 May 2016)

<<CUT *281 (05/23/16)££ 00:33

283-c-18-(Ross Simpson, AP correspondent)-"years to come"-AP correspondent Ross Simpson reports the gradual decline coincides with increased public awareness that smoking is a cause of cancer and other lethal health problems, and the mounting impact of anti-smoking campaigns, cigarette taxes and smoking bans. (23 May 2016)

<<CUT *283 (05/23/16)££ 00:18 "years to come"

282-c-17-(Ross Simpson, AP correspondent)-"not quite clear"-AP correspondent Ross Simpson reports the new statistic is based on the government's primary measuring stick for many health-related trends. (23 May 2016)

<<CUT *282 (05/23/16)££ 00:17 "not quite clear"

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