Smoking and Tobacco Control Monograph No. 7 
Figure 1 1 
Prevalence of cessation among ever-smokers, by tar yield and history of switching®: 
Ages 17 and older, United States, 1986 
Tar Yield (mg) History of Switching 
^ Ever switched to reduce tar/nicotine. 
Source: Centers for Disease Control, 1986. 
(2) say that their health has been affected, (3) be concerned about health 
effects, and (4) believe that their cigarettes are safer. 
The data on prevalence of cessation are especially intriguing, given 
that low-tar cigarette smokers and ever-switchers are better educated and 
it is known that persons with more years of education are less likely to be 
smokers and more likely to have quit (Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention, 1994a; Giovino et al., 1994). These data and the Pollay (1990) 
observation that the tobacco industry seems to be targeting lower tar yield 
cigarettes toward more highly educated smokers deserve consideration. I'he 
innovation of quitting smoking, which started among persons with more 
education, may have been replaced by the innovation of switching to lower 
tar brands (Rogers, 1983; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 
1989). 
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