Of these, 4.4 million were binge drinkers, including 1.7 million heavy drinkers. Cigarette Use An estimated 61 million Americans were current smokers in 1995. This represents a smoking rate of 29 percent. Current cigarette smoking did not change between 1994 and 1995. Among youths age 12-17, rates of smoking did not change between 1994 and 1995.
Current smokers are more likely to be heavy drinkers and illicit drug users than nonsmokers.
Among smokers in 1995, 12.6 percent were heavy drinkers and 13.6 percent were illicit drug users. Among nonsmokers, 2.7 percent were heavy drinkers and 3.0 percent were illicit drug users. In 1994, about 1.5 million Americans first became daily smokers. The estimated number of new smokers per year has remained steady since the 1980's. The corresponding rate for men age 15-44 was 11.6 percent.