Capella University
NURS:4060
Tobacco Use in Adults
The number one cause of preventable disease and mortality in the U.S. is tobacco use,
with specific groups, including adults, experiencing higher rates of consumption. The use of
, tobacco products is responsible for the development of illnesses in over 16 million adults and
approximately half a million premature deaths in the United States of America annually.
During
2019, 21.3% of adults 18 and older reported using at least one type of tobacco product – such as
cigarettes, cigars, e-cigarettes, or smokeless tobacco – on either a daily or occasional basis. To
address this disparity and reduce overall tobacco use, population-level interventions such as price
increases, smoke-free policies, and mass media campaigns are essential (Healthy People 2023, n.
d.).
Analysis of Tobacco Use in Adults
While cigarette smoking has decreased over time, the U.S. has experienced a surge in
various tobacco products, both combustible and non-combustible. To examine current trends, the
CDC analyzed 2020 National Health Institute Survey (NHIS) data, assessing five categories:
cigarettes, cigars, pipes, e-cigarettes, and smokeless tobacco. In 2020, 19% of U.S. adults (47.1
million) used a tobacco product, with cigarettes being the most prevalent at 12.5%, followed by
e-cigarettes (3.7%), cigars (3.5%), smokeless tobacco (2.3%), and pipes (1.1%). From 2019 to
2020, there was a decline in overall tobacco use, including combustible products, cigarettes, e-
cigarettes, and multiple product use. In 2020, nearly 80% of tobacco users used combustible
products, and 17.3% used multiple products.(Cornelius et al., 2022).
Health Effects of Tobacco in Adults
It is assumed that most adult tobacco users will get cancer of some sort in their lifetime.
The use of tobacco products is associated with a spectrum of significant health consequences,
including, but not limited to, coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular accidents, and malignancies
of the pulmonary, oral, laryngeal, esophageal, gastric, renal, pancreatic, and cervical systems