State

Fewer Californians smoking cigarettes, but hookah use on the rise (CA)
According to a study published in the American Journal of Public Health, smoking has declined in recent years in California, but hookah use is becoming more prevalent. Researchers analyzed data from the California Tobacco Survey and determined that hookah use increased forty percent between 2005 and 2008. The results also show that hookah use was more common among young adults aged 18-24, those with more education, non-Hispanic Whites, and cigarette users. The authors suggest that laws banning hookah lounges would be an effective method of decreasing the social acceptability of hookah use and conveying to the public that hookah smoking is dangerous. Click here for more details, or read the study abstract here.

Indiana smoking rate fell 23% from 2001 to 2010 (IN)
According to data collected from the Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), Indiana’s smoking prevalence has decreased from 27.4% in 2001 to 21.2% in 2010, an all time low. Karla Sneegas, the state’s assistant commissioner of tobacco prevention and cessation, says smoke-free advocates are celebrating, but the state needs to continue working to lower the smoking rate. Sneegas says the most challenging populations to reach are the individuals with low income and less education, but one way to encourage smoking cessation among these populations is through smoke-free laws. Read more here.

New York's youth smoking decline fuels drop in adult smoking (NY)
Between 2000 and 2010, the prevalence of smoking declined 68% among New York middle school students and 54% among high school students, according to a report from the New York State Department of Health. The decrease in smoking is projected to reduce future health care costs in the state by about $5 billion; currently, the annual medical cost of smoking in New York is estimated at $8 billion. Health officials believe the decrease in smoking can be linked to the work of the state health department’s tobacco control program that began in 2000 and offers tobacco prevention strategies and policy interventions. The director of the New York Tobacco Control Program believes that the state is on the path to ending its tobacco use problem. Read more here and read the report from the report from the department of health here.

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National

Progress Report on State Legislative Activity to Reduce Cancer Incidence and Mortality finds majority of states falling short on laws and policies that prevent cancer and save lives
A report from the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) says that a majority of states do not have appropriate legislative solutions that will prevent and fight cancer, including smoke-free laws, funding for tobacco prevention programs, and tobacco taxes. The report notes that although 47 states have increased their cigarette taxes in the past ten years, the momentum has stalled; in fact, in the past year, multiple states saw bills that would decrease cigarette taxes. Furthermore, no state passed a smoke-free law in the previous legislative session. The report recommends that states close loopholes that exist in smoke-free policies in order to provide uniform protections from secondhand smoke to all workers. The report concludes that half of all cancer deaths in the U.S. could be prevented if Americans made lifestyle changes, including stopping smoking. Read more here and read the full report here.

Heart disease prevention may save billions annually in U.S.
According to a statement made by the American Heart Association (AHA), preventive measures will lower the $450 billion annual cost of heart disease in the United States. The AHA has recommended steps that policy makers should take to reduce the burden of heart disease, including raising tobacco taxes to discourage tobacco use and ensuring adequate funding for smoking cessation programs to help those trying to quit. The president of the AHA notes that while personal responsibility is vital for a healthier country, environmental and policy changes are the most impactful ways to improve health. Read more here and read the press release from the American Heart Association here.

New national report shows many differences in the types and levels of substance use and mental illness problems experienced among the states
A new report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provides state by state data on behavioral health issues. Researchers used data from the National Surveys on Drug Use and Health to measure substance abuse and the perceived risk of certain risky behaviors, including tobacco use and cigarette smoking. The authors suggest that this data should be used by states to better target cessation interventions. Read more here and click here for the full SAMHSA report.

Smokers' own concern about smoking ties record high
Survey results from the annual 2011 Gallup poll shows that 67% of smokers and 81% of nonsmokers believe that smoking is very harmful. The 67% of smokers who believe that smoking is very harmful is an increase from 57% in 2010, and the nonsmokers’ percentage has remained steady over the past decade. Thirty five percent of smokers believe that secondhand smoke is very harmful compared to 59% of nonsmokers, both percentages that have remained steady in the past decade. According to researchers, the poll results, coupled with the surge in people who support a public smoking ban in all places, show that American nonsmokers want protection from secondhand smoke and that even smokers acknowledge the dangers of smoking and secondhand smoke. Read more here.

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