Smoking in Adults

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), smoking harms nearly every organ of the body, causing many diseases and affecting the health of smokers in general. Smoking causes many types of cancers, heart disease, respiratory disease, and complicates pregnancy outcomes. Secondhand smoke, or environment smoke, also causes significant illness and disease. For more information on secondhand smoke, please see the CDC's fact sheet at: http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/secondhand_smoke/secondhandsmoke.htm.

• Smoking rates in the U.S. and Virginia have been steadily declining in the past ten years.
• In Virginia in 2006, 19.3% of adults were current smokers.
• As income increases, smoking rates significantly decrease. In other words, the more money a household makes, the less likely household members are to smoke.
• Education has the same effect as income. As education increases, smoking rates decrease.

Healthy People 2010 Objective:
(27-1a.) Reduce cigarette smoking by adults to 12 percent.

Source: VA BRFSS, 1999-2005
Data Note: Percents are weighted towards annual population estimates.

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