81% of U.S. Adults Have Smoke-Free Rules at Home: CDC

Eighty-one percent of American adults have smoke-free rules in their homes, and 74 percent ban smoking in their cars, according to a new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

HealthDay reports smokers are less likely than non-smokers to ban smoking at home or in the car. The CDC found 89 percent of non-smokers have a smoking ban at home, compared with 48 percent of smokers. Among non-smokers, 85 percent do not allow smoking in the car, compared with 27 percent of smokers.

The findings are published in Preventing Chronic Disease.

“We have made tremendous progress in the last 15 years protecting people in public spaces from secondhand smoke,” Dr. Tim McAfee, director of the CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health, said in a news release. “The good news is that people are applying the same protection in their homes and vehicles.”

The CDC found the highest prevalence of smoke-free rules in many states with comprehensive smoke-free laws and long-running tobacco control programs.

Dr. McAfee noted that almost 11 million non-smokers are exposed to secondhand smoke at home, and 17 million non-smokers are exposed in vehicles.

“While almost half of all U.S. residents are protected by 100 percent smoke-free policies in worksites, restaurants and bars, overall there are still an estimated 88 million non-smoking Americans over the age of 3 who are exposed to secondhand smoke,” said study lead author Brian King. “It’s important to educate people on the dangers of secondhand smoke exposure and how smoke-free homes and vehicles can reduce that exposure.”