Pechmann, C., P. Dixon, and N. Layne (1998), "An Assessment of the United States and Canadian Smoking Reduction Objectives for Year 2000," American Journal of Public Health, 88 (September), 1362-1367.

article abstract:
Objectives. This study assessed whether US and Canadian smoking reduction objectives for the year 2000 are attainable. The United States seeks to cut smoking in its population to 15%; the Canadian goal in 24%.

Methods. Smoking data were obtained for the United States (1974-1994) and Canada (1970-1995) for the overall populations and several age-sex subpopulations. Analyses estimated trends, future prevalences, and likelihood of goal attainment. Structural time-series models were used because of their ability to fit a variety of trends.

Results. The findings indicate that smoking has been declining steadily since the 1970s, by approximately 0.7 percentage points a year, in both countries. Extrapolating these trends to the year 2000, the US prevalence will be 21% and the Canadian prevalence 24%.

Conclusions. If the current trends continue, the Canadian goal seems attainable, but the US goal does not. The US goal is reachable only for 65- to 80-year-olds, who already have low smoking prevalences. It appears that both countries must increase their commitment to population-based tobacco control.

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© 1998 by the American Public Health Association.