Poll: Fewer Americans smoking
Results of a new Gallup poll indicate that 21% of American adults are current smokers, a figure that corroborates findings from a similar study conducted in 2006 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While this statistic is the lowest ever since Gallup began polling the public in 1944, it is not statistically different than the percentages reported each year since 1999. In other words, the Gallup results provide more evidence that the downward trend in current smoking among U.S. adults has stalled. Gallup also reports that majority of smokers would like to quit, and that a similar percentage believe that they are addicted to smoking. To read more, click here.

Preventive steps could save 100,000 U.S. lives
A new report released by the Partnership for Prevention indicates that increased utilization of five preventive health services could save the lives of 100,000 U.S. adults every year. Increasing the utilization rates of smoking cessation services, coupled with improved access to cessation products, would account for approximately 42,000 lives saved, which was second only to increasing daily aspirin consumption. Click here to read more.

Washington: Adult smoking rate continues downward trend
A new survey conducted by the Washington State Department of Health has demonstrated that the number of current smokers in the state continues to decrease. Since the inception of the state’s Tobacco Prevention and Control program in 2000, the adult smoking rate has dropped from 22.4 percent to 17 percent. While the change from 2005 to 2006 was relatively modest - 17.6 percent in comparison to 17 percent - it nonetheless translates into 235,000 fewer smokers in the state. However, smoking prevalence has not changed for some in the state, including those who make less than $25,000 a year and those with a high school diploma or less. The Department of Health is currently working on innovative smoking cessation strategies to help reach these populations. Click here to read more or click here to read the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids’ response written by President Matthew L. Myers.

Canada aims to cut smoking to 12% of population
Through more stringent smoking bans and tightening control on cigarette smuggling, Canada has set an ambitious goal of reducing smoking prevalence to 12% by 2011. The government’s plan also aims to reduce the smoking rates of youth ages 15 to 19 from 15% to 9%, raise the number of Canadians that successfully quit smoking to 1.5 million, and reduce secondhand exposure prevalence from 28% to 20%. To read more, click here.

High prevalence of smoking among physicians in China
A recent study has uncovered that approximately 23% of 3,552 hospital-based physicians in China are current smokers. This figure is dramatically higher that the percentages of physicians who smoke in the United States (3.3) and in Great Britain (6.8), and is problematic considering the powerful role physicians can play in encouraging their patients to quit. Click here to read more about the study, which was recently published in the July issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

President's Cancer Panel Annual Report 2006-2007: Tobacco Control Recommendations
The President’s Cancer Panel Annual Report made 15 tobacco control-related recommendations.  In addition to the tobacco-specific recommendations, the report notes that all of the issues presented within it will require the need for political will, significant culture change, a shift from a health care toward a disease prevention emphasis, a need for a more unified effort among disease-focused public and non-governmental agencies and continued research endeavors. Click here to access the report. 

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