Cigar Smoking Remains Stable Among Young Adult Males

Cigar smoking remains popular among young adult males, according to data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH).

Cigarette smoking in the past month among males ages 18 to 25 decreased from 44.4 percent in 2002 to 40.5 percent in 2007, mirroring declines in both the general population, and among youth.

At the same time young adult males continue to smoke cigars. Nearly one in five males (18.4 percent) ages 18 to 25 reported smoking a cigar in the past month in 2007, compared to 16.8 percent in 2002.

According to the authors, “it is important for young adults to understand — and for prevention and intervention programs to continue to emphasize — that cigar use is not a healthy alternative to cigarette smoking.”