State-Specific Prevalence of Cigarette Smoking Among Adults and Quitting Among Persons Aged 18–35 Years — United States, 2006
To assess the prevalence of current smoking among all adults and among those aged 18-35, and to assess the proportion of smokers aged 18-35 who have quit or attempted to quit, CDC analyzed state and area data from the of the 2006 Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System. The report found that that a majority of current daily smokers aged 18-35 had tried to quit during the past year. On average, approximately one third of those in the same age group who had ever smoked did not currently smoke. In addition, CDC found that for the first time the proportion of current smoking in a state (Utah) dropped below 10 percent. Since 2003, Utah and the U.S. Virgin Islands have achieved the Healthy People 2010 national health objective of reducing smoking prevalence to 12 percent or less. Fully implementing evidence-based strategies that decrease initiation of tobacco use and increase cessation rates would accelerate progress in reducing rates of smoking and other tobacco use. Click here to access the report.

New study shows tobacco use declining among Utah citizens
The Utah Department of Health has released the results of a recent study indicating significant reductions in tobacco use. The age-adjusted adult smoking prevalence of 9.5% is the lowest it has been since the state began tracking smoking behavior in 1989. Utah’s high school students are also much less likely to smoke than students nationwide, with a rate of 7.4% compared to 23% nationwide. Click here to read more.

Cigar and smokeless tobacco use in the lesbian, gay and bisexual population
A recent study provides estimates of the prevalence of cigar and smokeless tobacco use in the lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) population and the general population in California. Researchers used data from two separate, state-wide surveys as a basis for their analysis: 1,950 adult LGB respondents contributed to the first survey, while 20,525 adults from the general population responded to the second. Primary results indicate that lifetime and current prevalence rates for cigar smoking and smokeless tobacco use were lower for all LGB sub-groups compared to the general population. Click here to view the abstract of the study, which is published in the September issue of Nicotine and Tobacco Research.

Scotland: New evidence shows smoking ban has slashed heart attack admissions
A recent study in Scotland provides more compelling evidence that comprehensive smoking bans dramatically reduce the incidence of heart attacks. Researchers compared admissions to nine Scottish hospitals in the year before and the year after the ban was implemented. They found a 17 percent reduction in heart attack admissions during the year after the ban went into effect, compared to three percent annual reduction observed in the ten years prior to the ban. The researchers also reported a 39 percent reduction in secondhand smoke exposure among eleven year olds and non-smokers. Finally, they reported strong public support for the ban and a lack of evidence suggesting that the ban was associated with an increase in smoking in the home. Click here to read more. Click here to view the abstract for the child exposure study, and here to view the abstract for the adult non-smoker study.

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