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Some Interesting Results from an April 1993 Gallup Poll 



Smokers are interested in quitting 



In 1993, 66% of smokers stated that they would like to quit 

 smoking. No time period was mentioned in the survey question. 

 We know from Federal surveys that about 4 0% of everyday smokers 

 (17 million people) quit for at least one day in a recent year. 

 However, more than 90% of these will eventually relapse. In any 

 given year, about 2.5% of smokers quit permanently. 



Most smokers believe that they would be able to quit smoking if 

 they made the decision to do so 



In 1993, 69% of smokers (74% of male smokers and 63% of 

 female smokers) stated that they believed that they could quit 

 smoking if they decided to do so. 



About 18% of smokers stated that they would use the nicotine 

 patch if they decided to quit 



21% of females and 14% of males would use the patch. Most 

 (68%) smokers stated that they would try to "stop cold turkey". 



74% of smokers believe that they are addicted to cigarettes 



72% of males and 77% of females report that they are 

 addicted to cigarettes. Fifty-six percent of smokers state that 

 they are addicted to cigarettes and that they want to quit. 

 Nineteen percent state that they are addicted and that they don't 

 want to quit. Fourteen percent state that they are not addicted 

 and that they do want to quit. Twelve percent state that they 

 are not addicted and that they don't want to quit. 



If they had to do it over again, eight of ten adult smokers 

 report that they would not have started smoking in the first 

 place 



86% of females and 77% of males would not start smoking, if 

 they had it all to do over again. 



65% of smokers believe that their smoking has already affected 

 their health 



69* of males and 61% of females so report. 



78% of smokers believe that it is very likely or likely that they 

 will have serious health problems from smoking if they continue 

 to smoke 



82% of males and 75% of females so report. 



77% of smokers believe that they could avoid or decrease serious 

 health problems from smoking if they quit 



76% of males and 78% of females so report. 



90% of smokers felt that smoking was harmful to their health 



90% of both genders believe that smoking is harmful to their 

 health. 



• 



Source: Thomas RM, Larsen MD. Smoking Prevalence, Beliefs, and 

 Activities by Gender and Other Demographic Indicators. 

 Princeton, NJ: The Gallup Organization, Inc., 1993. 



