The rate of cigarette smoking among adults has been on the decline in Georgia for the last few years, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) revealed in its latest report. Smoking percentage in Georgia is now lowest in Southern states, excluding Florida.

According to a new CDC report, smoking rate in Georgia is declining steadily. The rate of adult cigarette smoking dropped from 21.2% in 2011 to 20.4 in 2012. After that it fell to 18.8% in 2013. Smoking percentage in Georgia is lower compared to other Southern states except for Florida, where it is at 16.8%. Smoking rate was recorded at 15.9% in Texas.

According to the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, on the whole, 26 states saw decline in cigarette smoking prevalence during that period. And in the meantime, use of smokeless tobacco in Georgia rose from 4.4% in 2011 to 5% two years later; however, that change was very small.

Despite decreased rate of smoking in Georgia, an American Lung Association official said that the news was not that great. According to June Deen of the American Lung Association in Georgia, increase in less traditional forms of tobacco use has been observed. Deen referred to the use of e-cigarettes and smokeless tobacco.

It was reported by the CDC and the US Food and Drug Administration that use of e-cigarettes among middle and high school students increased three times from 2013 to 2014. According to Deen, market targets youth when it comes to e-cigarettes and effect of using these products is generally not known.

Deen said that teeth, gums and throat get affected by use of smokeless tobacco. Preventing tobacco can help prevent disease, disability, and death in the United States, caused by its use. Each year, tobacco use leads to over 11,000 deaths in Georgia and its direct health care costs are over $3 billion a year.

According to Michael Eriksen, dean of Georgia State University’s School of Public Health, cigarette smoking rate in Georgia is ‘moving in the right direction’. He said, “It’s much better than other Southern states”.