State

Utah smokers at a record low: 9.1% (UT)
Tobacco use among adults in Utah is at its lowest on record, the Utah Department of Health reports. Since the Tobacco Prevention and Control Program (TPCP) began receiving Master Settlement Agreement funds in 1999, adult smoking has decreased 33%, smoking among high school students decreased 34%, and secondhand smoke exposure declined 68 % among children. Tobacco control in Utah is a coordinated effort; TPCP maintains partnerships with 12 local health departments, 10 school districts with higher than average tobacco use rates, 12 community-based agencies, and more than 1,500 members of local coalitions. Public health administrators also credit the state’s tobacco tax and public education campaigns for the state’s success in encouraging smokers to quit and raising awareness about the physical and financial costs of smoking. Read more here, or click here to download a PDF of the report from the Utah Department of Health.

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National

New NCI Tobacco Control Monograph - Phenotypes and endophenotypes: Foundations for genetic studies of nicotine use and dependence
This monograph reviews the scientific foundation for genetic studies of nicotine use and dependence. The authors and editors—representing a wide range of expertise in the fields of psychology, psychiatry, behavioral pharmacology, neurobiology, epidemiology, statistical genetics, and bioinformatics—reviewed and analyzed the growing body of research findings in the field to develop a scientific plan for incorporating genetic research into cross-disciplinary studies of nicotine dependence. This monograph provides important, innovative, and new concepts and methodologies for behavioral genetics. This information can help direct future research, tailor treatment decisions for individual smokers, and guide public health policy in tobacco prevention and control. Click here to read more, and to download a PDF of the monograph.

CDC releases SMART Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey data
The CDC Behavioral Surveillance Branch (BSB) has released data for Selected Metropolitan/Micropolitan Area Risk Trends, or SMART BRFSS. The SMART BRFSS project provides an online tool that allows users to compare selected data for states, cities and counties, from 2002-2008. This website provides information on the prevalence of numerous health conditions and health behaviors, including tobacco use, in states and localities across the nation. Click here to learn more or to access the SMART BRFSS data.

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