Percent of total North Carolina adults using tobacco has decreased slightly over the past five years, from 23.8% in 2018 to 22.8% in 2023, but remains well over the target rate of 15.0%.

The percent of the state's male population using tobacco dropped almost 5 percentage points between 2016 and 2022 but increased to 30.5% in 2023 and remains much higher than the 2023 female population rate of 16.2%. 

Definition:

Tobacco use is the act of consuming tobacco products(e.g., cigarettes, cigars, pipes, smokeless tobacco, and e-cigarettes). Measurement of tobacco use includes frequency, amount and type of tobacco product used.

Why is this indicator important?

Tobacco consumption in North Carolina is responsible for a significant amount of disease and death. Tobacco causes significant public and private costs (e.g., financial costs of healthcare, lost productivity), including costs associated with exposure to secondhand smoke.

Nicotine is a highly addictive and dangerous drug found in tobacco products. It is especially dangerous to the health of developing babies.  Youth and young adults are also especially vulnerable to the harmful effects of nicotine. [CDC]

Additional Information:

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) is a random telephone survey of state residents aged 18 and older. The survey collects information on health behaviors and preventive health practices related to the leading causes of death and disability.     [NC SCHS, CDC]

The Percent of Adults Using Tobacco indicator is aligned with HNC2030.  

References and Links:

https://www.cdc.gov/

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System  (adult tobacco use)

https://schs.dph.ncdhhs.gov/units/stat/brfss/