Dramatic drop in tobacco use stalls, reports finds

Despite dramatic drops in smoking over the last 60 years, tobacco use among middle-aged and older people remains relatively steady and e-cigarettes are still relatively popular, according to a report released Monday by the American Cancer Society.

Additionally, only 18% of eligible adults were up to date on lung cancer screening, which can detect the disease in its early stages, the nonprofit said in its first U.S. Tobacco Atlas .

The digital report contains recent data on tobacco use, including who is using tobacco, the burden on health and the economy as well as advances in tobacco control.

For example, while teen smoking is down overall, the lure of flavored e-cigarettes remains. Among high schoolers, use grew to a peak of nearly 28% in 2019 and dropped in 2024 to less than 8%. On