Inverse Correlations: Cigarette Tank as Vaping Up

It has been emphasized repeatedly, but it bears emphasizing again: the leading cause of preventable deaths in the United States is cigarette smoking. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”), smoking accounts for over 480,000 deaths annually in the country. Surprisingly, more than one in ten American adults still choose to smoke cigarettes, with 11.5% reporting cigarette use at least occasionally in 2021.

On a local level, Arizona has an even higher smoking rate than the national average, with 12.7% of adults identifying as smokers. This smoking epidemic contributes to a staggering 25.9% of all cancer-related deaths in the state, which translates to approximately 8,300 lives lost each year in Arizona alone.

However, there is some positive news. Cigarette usage has been declining steadily since the late 2000s, which coincides with the rise of e-cigarettes and vaping devices. In 2009, there were 46.6 million cigarette users, compared to just 28.3 million in 2021. This significant decline aligns with increasing research suggesting that e-cigarettes can be effective as a smoking cessation tool. A review conducted in 2024 found that 8-10% of participants using e-cigarettes were able to quit smoking entirely, compared to only 6% of those using traditional nicotine replacement therapies like patches or gum.

While vaping is not a guaranteed method for quitting nicotine, it has successfully helped many users transition to a safer alternative. As cigarette use declines, the number of adults who vape is steadily increasing. In 2023, the CDC reported that only 1.8% of U.S. adults were “dual users,” meaning they both vape and smoke cigarettes, indicating minimal crossover between the two behaviors. Taken together, these trends suggest that vaping may be paving the way for a smoke-free future.