According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, about 90% of those that smoke began smoking before the age of 18. Today, the average age for someone to begin smoking is 13 years.
The good news is that over 38 million Americans have quit smoking. Something’s working. Quit smoking pills and capsules. Lozenges. TV ads. Radio ads. Peer pressure. Societal regulations (many restaurants and bars now prohibit smoking in and around their premises), the birth of kids, etc.
- More women than men will attempt to quit smoking although more men, on average, will have successfully quit smoking (5+ years)
- More blacks than whites will attempt to quit smoking although more whites will have successfully quit smoking (1+ years)
- Younger smokers in the age range of 20-44 years will attempt to quit smoking than older smokers
- Smokers who are educated are more likely to attempt to quit smoking than those without an education
- Of those that have successfuly quit smoking, 70% tried mroe than once, 22% made 3-5 attempts before quitting and 9% made 6+ attempts before quitting smoking
