Quit Attempts and Use of Cessation Aids Among U.S. Adults Who Smoke Nondaily

Abstract

Introduction

About 25% of people who currently smoke cigarettes in the U.S. smoke nondaily, and relatively little is known about their intentions or attempts to quit. Active surveillance is essential to identify services needed to support smoking cessation efforts and reduce the burden of disease.

Methods

U.S. population-wide estimates of quit attempts and use of cessation aids among adults who smoke cigarettes were calculated using data from the September 2022 wave of the Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey. Statistical analyses were conducted in 2024. Weighted percentages and 95% CIs are presented by sociodemographic characteristics and smoking pattern.

Results

In 2022, nearly 6 million adults (2.59 million women, 3.36 million men) in the U.S. reported smoking nondaily an average of 13.4 days per month (95% CI=12.7, 14.1). Compared with adults who smoke daily, the proportion of past-year quit attempts was higher among people who reported smoking on some days of the month (always some days: 41.8%; formerly daily: 58.4%; daily: 32.2%). However, those who smoke some days were less likely to report receiving medical advice to quit (always some days: 49.5%; formerly daily: 58.1%; daily: 72.7%), using pharmacotherapy such as nicotine replacement therapy or a prescribed medication (always some days: 17.9%; formerly daily: 32.4%; daily: 38.7%), or receiving counseling to quit smoking (always some days: 5.8%; formerly daily: 6.9%; daily: 12.0%).

Conclusions

Given the substantial number of adults who smoke nondaily in the U.S. and their interest in quitting, developing targeted interventions and communication is an important public health priority.