Smoking rate reaches historic low in California

Californians are kicking the habit.

The rate of adult smoking has dropped sharply over the last two decades, reaching its lowest level on record, largely because of aggressive tobacco control campaigns by state and local governments, officials said.

Last year, 11.9% of Californians said they smoked, down from 25.9% in 1984, the earliest data available, according to the California Department of Public Health. Only one other state had a lower smoking rate last year: Utah with 9.1%.

Smoking rates also have dropped nationally, but California still remains far below U.S. levels, saving lives and billions of dollars in avoided healthcare costs, state health officials say. L.A. TIMES