The NHIS is the largest survey ever to measure interest in quitting smoking. In 1993, the NHIS prevalence estimate of cigarette smoking among adults was the lowest recorded since the survey began measuring smoking in 1965. The rate of decline, however, has decreased in recent years. One-half of all adults alive who have ever smoked have quit. By 1993 half of all U.S. adults alive who had ever smoked had quit.
Smoking cessation is lowest among high school dropouts compared with that of other education groups.