## despite Declining Rates, Tobacco Remains Leading Cause of Cancer Deaths in U.S.
Despite a continued decline in smoking rates, tobacco remains the leading cause of fatal cancer in the United states, according to a new report detailed in the U.S. Tobacco Atlas, released by the american Cancer Society (ACS). The report highlights meaningful progress in tobacco control,but also reveals concerning disparities in screening rates and ongoing challenges with emerging products like e-cigarettes.
Smoking rates fell to 11.5% in 2022, with 1.3 million Americans having dropped the habit in 2022, the report states. However, uptake of recommended lung cancer screenings remains low. Only 18% of eligible current or former smokers were up to date with screening in 2022 – a crucial step that can led to earlier cancer detection and improved survival.
“the U.S. Tobacco Atlas is a powerful tool showcasing not only the toll that tobacco has taken on the U.S., but also the immense progress public health gains have made over the past decades,” said Nigar Nargis, senior scientific director of tobacco control research at the American Cancer Society, in a news release. ”As the landmark 1964 U.S.Surgeon General’s report on tobacco, millions of lives have been saved by tobacco control, but the scale of the epidemic demands our continued attention and support.”
The ACS recommends annual lung cancer screening for adults aged 50 to 80 who currently smoke or have a history of smoking, specifically those with a 20-year or greater pack-year smoking history (defined as smoking one pack per day for a year). The atlas maps tobacco use and control efforts across the nation, revealing that lung cancer screening rates are lowest in Southern states, which also bear the greatest burden of the disease. Access to tobacco cessation aids is also lowest in the South and Midwest, according to the report.The report also sheds light on the growing use of e-cigarettes, finding that approximately 33% of tobacco users also vape. More than 1.6 million youth currently use e-cigarettes, with flavored products being the preference for 90% of them.
Significant disparities in tobacco-related burdens were also identified, impacting racial minorities, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those with lower income and limited education.”The U.S. Tobacco Atlas is more than a report – it is a call to action,” stated Dr. William Dahut, chief scientific officer at the American Cancer Society. “It reminds us that progress is possible, but not inevitable. It requires bold leadership, equitable policies, and unwavering commitment from every sector of society.”
Dr. Ahmedin jemal, senior scientific vice president of surveillance, prevention and health service research at the American Cancer Society, emphasized the need to address these inequities.”While we have made significant strides in reducing smoking prevalence and expanding access to evidence-based cessation resources, we remain deeply concerned about persistent disparities in tobacco use and tobacco-related disease,” he said. “these disparities are particularly pronounced in states with weak tobacco control policies and among populations with lower socioeconomic status, and within communities historically targeted by the tobacco industry. This report brings these inequities into sharp focus and underscores the urgent need for strengthening state and federal tobacco control policies, as well as targeted interventions.”
More data on cigarette smoking among U.S. adults is available from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
