Cigarette Smoking and Use of Other Commercial Tobacco and Nicotine Products
Cigarette Smoking in 2023
Adult Tobacco Survey responses were divided into four key categories of smoking status, described in Table 2.
Most adults (88%) do not currently smoke and nearly two in three adults (62%) have never smoked regularly. That is, they have not smoked at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime. More than one in four (28%) adults had never tried smoking or (27%) used to smoke, and about one in three (34%) had experimented with smoking (Figure 9). Although current cigarette smoking has decreased from 21% in 2006 to 12% in 2023, nearly one in eight Wyoming adults currently smoke.
Do People Think Smoking Cigarettes Is Harmful?
Sixty years ago (January 11, 1964), the U.S. Surgeon General first released an official report documenting links between smoking and two diseases: cancer and chronic bronchitis (U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, 1964). Since then, the list of smoking-related diseases has grown dramatically (USDHHS, 2014). Additionally, CDC, SUTPP, county, and other public health efforts have worked to educate the public about the potential harms of commercial tobacco use. Key components of these education efforts include warning labels on packaging and advertising, sharing research findings, and sharing educational content in various forms from print to social media (CDC, 2024a; USDHHS, 2014). These efforts have succeeded in Wyoming; in 2023, less than 1% of adults said smoking was “not at all harmful” (Figure 10).
Other Commercial Tobacco and Nicotine Products (Including ENDS)
Cigarettes, ENDS, and smokeless tobacco were the most commonly used commercial tobacco and nicotine products among Wyoming adults. Cigarettes have remained the preferred product throughout the history of the Adult Tobacco Survey (Figure 11).
From 2015 to 2023, current ENDS use increased from 7% to 10% and is approaching the same level as cigarette use. The use of cigars and hookah have significantly decreased since 2010, while the use of smokeless tobacco and pipes have remained consistent.
The use of new and emerging commercial tobacco and nicotine products (e.g., heated tobacco, nicotine pouches, dissolvable nicotine, nicotine gel, and any other types) remains low among adults. The most common of these emerging products was nicotine pouches, such as ZYN; 5% of adults used these products. Surveys specific to youth or young adults, who might be more likely to try new and emerging products, could have different results.
Conclusion
The public is very aware that smoking is harmful. Less than 1% of adults said that smoking is not at all harmful.
The adult smoking rate, as measured by the Adult Tobacco Survey, has decreased significantly to 12% compared to 21% in 2006. Since 2010, the use of other commercial tobacco and nicotine products has remained fairly consistent or decreased, except for ENDS use approaching the same level as cigarette use.
Cigarettes, ENDS, and smokeless tobacco were the three most popular commercial tobacco and nicotine products for adults. ENDS are a subject of concern for youth and young adults because of national trends showing increased use (Gentzke et al., 2022) and the potential for them to lead to cigarette smoking (Berry et al., 2019; Hair et al., 2021). Their relative popularity is also increasing.
There is developing evidence that newer commercial tobacco and nicotine products (such as nicotine pouches) may become more popular than more established types (such as hookah or cigars).
