目標：瞭解國人吸菸率與戒菸率的現況，並探討國人吸菸量與吸菸起始年齡中位數兩項吸菸行為指標。方法：為一描述性的研究設計，針對臺灣地區成年國民，利用2001年舉辦之國民健康調查資料進行分析。結果：國人成人男性之吸菸盛行率為46.5%，女性為4.2%，戒菸率男性為7.1%，女性為0.5%；男性每天吸菸者每日吸17.2支；男性開始吸菸年齡之中位數在1970-74年的出生世代降至18歲，女性降至20歲。結論：國人男性吸菸率呈現緩慢下降趨勢，女性吸菸率大致維持不變。未來研究需擬定標準問卷持續監測國人的吸菸與戒菸行為，菸害防制政策應優先考量提高戒菸率與預防開始吸菸。

　　　　　Objectives: To analyze the prevalence of current smokers and ex-smokers and smoking behavior among adults in Taiwan. Method: The study subjects came from a representative sample of the population in Taiwan and the data was collected through the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) in 2001. Results: The smoking rate was 46.5% in males and 4.2% in females and the ex-smoker rate was 7.1% in males and 0.5%in females. The average daily consumption was 17.2 cigarettes among male daily smokers. The median age of smoking initiation among males declined from 20 to 18 years old and among females from 30 to 20, in the birth cohort of 1970-74. Conclusions: The male smoking rate has been decreasing slowly and the number of ex-smokers has remained low. Smoking was initiated at an earlier period in life than two decades ago. The future emphasis of tobacco control policies in Taiwan should include: (1) the development of a surveillance system for smoking, to be conducted year after year with consistent standardized questionnaires and (2) strategies to sharply increase cessation rates and to prevent smoking from being initiated.