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In the past 40 years, we have come a long way indeed. In the mid-1960s, over 40
percent of the population smoked. The figure was even higher for males, 60
percent of whom smoked – including the Surgeon General and other physicians.
This seems incredible to me today, but I remember, as a medical student,
attending physicians and house staff smoking at nursing stations and in
conference rooms.
Today, prevalence rates have dropped to a national average of 25 percent. As
with all averages, some states have done better than others, and the state of
California is one of the leaders in reducing smoking rates. At 19 percent, the
prevalence rates are the second lowest in the nation, second only to Utah’s,
which are just under 14 percent. |
