Prevalence of Smoking
Each year close to half a million deaths are attributed to cigarette smoking, making it the leading preventable cause of death in the United States. Smoking increases the risk of heart disease, cancer, stroke, and chronic lung disease. Environmental tobacco smoke has been demonstrated to increase the risk of heart disease and cancer among nonsmokers. These data represent adults who self-reported their current smoking status. Data is based on the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, an ongoing, state-based, random-digit-dialed telephone survey of non-institutionalized civilian adults aged 18 years and older.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
http://www.cdc.gov/brfss/index.htm
These data do not convey the frequency of cigarette use over a lifetime nor the current amount of cigarettes smoked. Each of these factors may affect an individual's risk for chronic disease. Furthermore, this indicator does not measure intent or attempts to quit smoking among smokers nor does it measure exposure to environmental tobacco smoke among nonsmokers. Percentages are weighted to reflect population characteristics.
Percent of Adults in Arizona Who Are Current Cigarette Smokers (smoke every day or some days)
Visualization Notes:
Although the overall rate of smoking has decreased in recent decades, in 2009, 16.1 percent of adults still smoked "everyday" or "somedays."
Cigarette Smoking Status Among Adults in Arizona
Data Source
U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
http://www.cdc.gov/brfss/index.htm