According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the rate of smoking in the United States has declined to an all-time low of 14 percent. More than 3 of every 5 adult Americans who have smoked have quit, the report said. Still, 34 million Americans currently smoke, and an estimated 480,000 die from smoking-related illnesses each year, the agency said. About 16 million people in the United States now suffer from cancer, heart disease and smoking-related disorders, according to the C.D.C. The financial toll is enormous too, with annual health care spending attributed to smoking exceeding $170 billion, the agency said.

Source: New York Times January 23, 2020 16:52 UTC