On November 12, Thursday United States health officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that the U.S. smoking rates have dropped sharply by almost 20 percent during the past decade, including one percentage point during the last year. However, although more people are kicking the habit, the researchers also noted that people covered by the government's Medicaid insurance plan and Americans without health insurance were much more likely to smoke.
The CDC's findings were based on a yearly survey of Americans. Current smoking rates are even lower than last year's 50-year-low.
During the past decade the percentage of U.S. adult cigarette smokers plummeted between 2005 (20.9 percent) and 2014 (16.8 percent). It even dipped one full percentage point from 2013 to 2014.
The CDC is not certain about the exact cause of people putting out their last cigarette. However, some effects include public smoking bans, higher tobacco taxes, mass media anti-smoking campaigns, and better health insurance plans.
A major effect was a boost of the federal tobacco tax to 62 cents in 2009. That caused smoking rates to drop among adults and youth.
A possible X-factor is e-cigarettes. However, there is little evidence that they are helping people to quit smoking.
Smoking rates were higher among men (18.8 percent) compared to women (14.8 percent). Meanwhile, senior citizens at least 65 years old had the lowest rates of lighting up tobacco products, at just 8.5 percent, according to NBC News.
There was also some bad news. Adults without health insurance or in Medicaid were two times more likely to smoke than those with private health insurance plans or Medicare.
In other smoking news, lighting up has again become a hot topic in New York City's (NYC) public housing. In 2003 Mayor Michael Bloomberg's smoking ban made it illegal in the Big Apple's bars and restaurants.
The U.S.'s Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) just launched a proposal to end smoking in public housing's apartments and indoor common areas. Critics argue that such restrictions target the poor, according to The New York Times.
The CDC reported that every year smoking kills half a million Americans. It also costs the country $300 billion.
Here is how some New Yorkers responded to the 2003 smoking ban: