Cancer Trends Progress Report

Cigarette smoking is the leading preventable cause of disease, disability, and death in the United States. Smoking causes cancers of the lung, esophagus, larynx, mouth, throat, kidney, bladder, liver, pancreas, stomach, cervix, colon and rectum, as well as acute myeloid leukemia. Altogether, smoking causes approximately 30 percent of all U.S. cancer deaths each year. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2022, almost 182,808 of the estimated 609,360 cancer-related deaths will be caused by cigarette smoking.

The prevalence of adult cigarette smoking in the U.S. has steadily declined since the first Surgeon General’s Report on the harms of smoking was published in 1964, when smoking prevalence was 42 percent. While the prevalence of daily smoking has dropped over time, and the average number of cigarettes smoked per day among those who smoke daily has decreased, nondaily smoking has remained relatively stable. Many studies show that there is no safe level of smoking. For example, individuals who smoke even a few cigarettes per month over their lifetime are at a higher risk of smoking-related death than those who have never smoked, according to research published in the journal JAMA Network Open.

Moreover, while the prevalence of cigarette smoking has declined overall, there remain notable disparities between different subpopulations defined by income, level of educational attainment, race and ethnicity, and other sociodemographic characteristics. For example, according to 2020 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data, 27.1% of American Indian or Alaska Native individuals reported current cigarette use, compared to only 13.3% among non-Hispanic White individuals. Another area where disparities remain is among people who smoke menthol cigarettes. Although the overall prevalence of menthol cigarette smoking has declined over time among US adults, menthol use among people who smoke has continued to increase over time. Young adults, women and non-Hispanic Black individuals are more likely to smoke menthol cigarettes compared to their respective counterparts.

Besides cigarettes, other tobacco products are also used by U.S. adults. According to 2020 NHIS data, 3.7% of U.S. adults (9.1 million) reported using electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), 3.5% (8.6 million) reported using cigars, and 2.3% (5.7 million) reported using smokeless tobacco.

A cigar is defined as a roll of tobacco wrapped in leaf tobacco or in a substance that contains tobacco (whereas a cigarette is defined as a roll of tobacco wrapped most often in paper or some other non-tobacco substance). There are three major types of cigars currently sold in the U.S. – large cigars, cigarillos, and little cigars. Cigarillos are short (3-4 inches), narrow cigars that contain approximately 3 grams of tobacco and typically do not include a filter. Little cigars are about the same size as a cigarette and often include a filter. The marketplace of cigar products in the U.S. has recently been characterized by increasing product diversity, and marketing of these products has been targeted to specific population groups, including urban Black adults. Cigars, especially little cigars and cigarillos, come in a variety of flavors, including menthol, fruit and alcohol flavors, such as grape and wine, which appeals to adolescents and young adults.

Like cigarette smoke, cigar smoke contains toxic and carcinogenic compounds that are harmful to both people who smoke and people exposed to secondhand smoke. Cigar smoking causes oral cavity cancers (cancers of the lip, tongue, mouth, and throat) and cancers of the larynx (voice box), esophagus, and lung. Gum disease and tooth loss are also linked to cigar smoking, and people who smoke cigars heavily or inhale deeply may further be at increased risk of developing coronary heart disease. Smoking cigars heavily also increases the risk for lung diseases, such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis, which can be risk factors for lung cancer.

Smokeless tobacco is also known as chewing tobacco, spit tobacco, snuff, dip, or snus. Snuff is a finely cut or powdered tobacco that is either placed between the cheek and gum, or sniffed through the nose, respectively. Some moist snuff and all snus come in tea bag-like pouches. Chewing tobacco is used by putting a wad (loose leaves, plug, or twist) of tobacco inside the cheek. The prevalence of smokeless tobacco use tends to be higher among men, compared with women, and residents of rural areas, compared with residents of urban areas.

Chewing tobacco and snuff contain at least 28 cancer-causing agents. Use of smokeless tobacco causes oral, esophageal, and pancreatic cancer. Smokeless tobacco also causes serious oral health problems, including gum disease, other non-cancerous oral lesions, and tooth loss, and increases the risk of heart disease.

E-cigarettes (also known as vapes or Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS)) are battery-powered devices that convert a liquid (“e-liquid”) into an aerosol. E-liquids typically contain nicotine, flavorings, vegetable glycerin, propylene glycol and other chemicals. In addition to nicotine, e-cigarette aerosol may contain heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, and fine and ultrafine particles that can be inhaled deeply into the lungs by both users and by-standers. 

E-cigarette use among adults may potentially reduce the health risks associated with conventional cigarette smoking if users switch completely to e-cigarettes. However, a large percentage of U.S. adults who use e-cigarettes also smoke conventional cigarettes and are at continued risk for exposure to their toxic and carcinogenic compounds, and subsequent smoking-related morbidity and mortality. Furthermore, almost a quarter of those who use e-cigarettes report never having smoked, and the majority of this group is 18-24 years old. As noted above, overall, 3.7 percent of U.S. adults reported current e-cigarette use in 2020. E-cigarette use was higher among men than women (4.6% vs. 2.8%), among young adults (aged 18-24) than other age groups (9.4% vs. 3.7%), and among those who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual than heterosexual/straight (8.7% vs. 3.5%).

Presently, the COVID-19 pandemic poses a major threat to public health in the U.S. and across the world. Current and former cigarette smoking can increase an individual’s risk of severe illness from COVID-19. To reduce the chance of severe illness, people who currently smoke should quit, and people who used to smoke or have never smoked should refrain from using cigarettes.