Smokers Turn To Cheaper Tobacco Products

Cigarette smoking continues to decline, says a new government report. However, the use of non-cigarette tobacco products has increased. These include roll-your-own tobacco, pipe tobacco and cigars. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found a 25% decrease in overall tobacco consumption from 2000 to 2011. But from 2010 to 2011, the decrease was less than 1%. That’s because smokers were turning to other forms of tobacco, according to study authors. They noted a 2009 increase in the federal tobacco excise tax. It taxed cigarettes more heavily. That made non-cigarette tobacco products less expensive. The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report published the study. The New York Times wrote about it Aug. 3.