50 years of progress cuts smoking rates in half — but can we ever get to zero?

[Thomas3.20.2010]

Smoking rates cut in half. Eight million lives saved. More than 800,000 fewer lung cancer deaths. Fifty years after the U.S. Surgeon General first warned about the dangers of smoking, the benefits of quitting have never been clearer.

Yet 18 percent of the population still smokes. Nearly 2,000 teenagers take up the habit every day and tobacco companies advertise candy-flavored tobacco products with impunity. Is it possible this is the best the United States will ever do?

Health experts are convinced it isn’t — and they point to maps that rank states and regions by smoking status as proof. A look at a county-by-county breakdown of who smokes and where makes it clear that there are opportunities to get smoking rates way down, they say.

Read more: http://www.nbcnews.com/health/50-years-progress-cuts-smoking-rates-half-can-we-ever-2D11899207

[cory-3-10-13]

What a great, informative link Thomas. Thank you. I would love to see the legal smoking age go up to 21 years of age, like alcohol. That would be a great step towards eradicating this drug addiction. Especially since its been proven that the younger a smoker is when they start, the more likely they are to get hooked. 

[ShawnP]

I doubt if we will ever get to zero unless tobacco companies go out of business.

[ShawnP]

But i love the statistics, half is making strides.

[malin]

I don't think we'd ever get to zero realisticly but any effort to get as close to zero is awesome. 

[charo-lynn]

Thomas,

             God Bless you thomas, jan.24 wil be my 3 months, no cig-demons. I have joined the COPD internationa group, my oxi-level is up from 91 to 93,  94 - .

walking a mile at least 3 times a week. more energy, doing more work. still coughing, which I read it last anywhere from 1 month to 9 months-year.

     Thank you for helping and encouraging us.I was elated to see the number of smokers who have quit.

                             with Gods Love sharon Wilder