By the Numbers: 7 October 2024
37% & 69%
Respectively, the percentage of the (U.S.) population that has ever smoked, and the percentage of "the nation's annual prescription opioids" that this population used, according to a study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine -- Heavy Versus Light Smoking: Its Association With Opioid Use, Chronic Pain, and Mental Health.
Adults who smoked more than 5 cigarettes a day composed 12% of the population but used about the same number of opioids as the 63% of the population who never smoked. Adults who formerly smoked used 16% fewer opioids than adults who currently smoke (p<0.01). The percent with chronic pain during the year varied from 12.2% for adults who never smoked to 14.2% for light smoking, to 16.5% for those smoking more than a pack a day (p<0.01). Severe work limitations due to pain varied from 7.3% for adults who never smoked to 16.9% for those smoking more than a pack a day (p<0.01). Adults smoking more than a pack a day were twice as likely to report fair or poor mental health compared to those who never smoked (29.2% vs 13.6%) (p<0.01).
37% & 69%
Respectively, the percentage of the (U.S.) population that has ever smoked, and the percentage of "the nation's annual prescription opioids" that this population used, according to a study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine -- Heavy Versus Light Smoking: Its Association With Opioid Use, Chronic Pain, and Mental Health.
Adults who smoked more than 5 cigarettes a day composed 12% of the population but used about the same number of opioids as the 63% of the population who never smoked. Adults who formerly smoked used 16% fewer opioids than adults who currently smoke (p<0.01). The percent with chronic pain during the year varied from 12.2% for adults who never smoked to 14.2% for light smoking, to 16.5% for those smoking more than a pack a day (p<0.01). Severe work limitations due to pain varied from 7.3% for adults who never smoked to 16.9% for those smoking more than a pack a day (p<0.01). Adults smoking more than a pack a day were twice as likely to report fair or poor mental health compared to those who never smoked (29.2% vs 13.6%) (p<0.01).