Research

Prevalence of trial of snus products among adult smokers
According to a study published in the American Journal of Public Health, some smokers have tried snus, a moist powder tobacco product. Researchers examined 2008 survey data collected in eight test markets for snus around the country, and found that 10% of smokers had tried snus within the past year, and among adult men, the trial rate was 29%. Smokers with specific characteristics were more likely to try snus, including whites, individuals with less education, and smokers without immediate plans to quit (vs. those with intentions to quit within the next 30 days). The authors believe that more research should be completed on the association between trial of snus and low motivation to quit using tobacco. Health advocates have expressed concerns that tobacco companies’ marketing of snus has contributed to nicotine addiction among smokers and is preventing smokers from quitting tobacco use altogether. Read the study abstract here.

New York City smoking rates at all-time low (New York City)
New York City officials have announced that the smoking prevalence in New York City has reached an all time low of 14%, compared to 35% in 2002. Officials are crediting New York City’s multifaceted approach in lowering the smoking rate, including a tobacco quitline, health education campaigns, legislation such as the 2002 Smoke-Free Air Act, and higher tobacco taxes. While the achievements are notable, public health officials stress that they will continue to work to lower the smoking rate even further to allow more New Yorkers to lead a healthy, smoke-free life. Read the news release here and click here for a graphical representation of the declining smoking rates.

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State

Adult smoking in N.D. declines (ND)
North Dakota’s smoking prevalence among adults dropped from 18.6% in 2009 to 17.4% in 2010. According to health experts in the state, the decline in smoking can be attributed to the state’s comprehensive tobacco prevention program, which has implemented policies to make not using tobacco the norm in communities throughout the state. Successes have included a higher tobacco tax, media campaigns, and smoke free policies. Health officials state that the progress in reducing smoking indicates that the state’s interventions are working, and that funding for tobacco prevention programs must be sustained. Read more here.

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National

New report from CDC: State-specific trends in lung cancer incidence and smoking---United States, 1999-2008
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has published a new report that the incidence of new lung cancer cases in the U.S. dropped among women in six states and among men in 35 states between 1999 and 2008. The data indicate that the decrease in lung cancer cases corresponds closely with smoking patterns across the nation. These findings provide additional support for proven tobacco control policies, such as increasing tobacco excise taxes and enacting smoke-free laws, which are known to decrease cigarette consumption, encourage smokers to quit, and reduce nonsmokers' exposure to secondhand smoke. The CDC report concludes that in order to continue to protect Americans and accelerate progress in reducing lung cancer rates, state tobacco control efforts must be enhanced, and prevention programs must be adequately funded. In fiscal year 2011, states will collect $25.3 billion from tobacco excise taxes and the tobacco settlement, yet states will invest less than 2% of tobacco revenues ($518 million) in tobacco control programs this year - a small fraction of the tobacco industry's $12.4 billion in annual marketing expenditures. Click here to read the article in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).

September 2011 CDC Vital Signs issue: Adult smoking in the U.S.
According to a new Vital Signs report released by the CDC, the prevalence of cigarette smoking among adults ages eighteen and older decreased between the years 2005 and 2010, but enhanced efforts are needed to accelerate the decline. Researchers used data from the 2005-2010 National Health Interview Surveys and the 2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System to determine adult smoking prevalence. The results show that the prevalence of smoking (those who reported having smoked 100 or more cigarettes in their lifetime and now smoke every day or some days) among adults decreased from 20.9% in 2005 to 19.3% in 2010. CDC recommends utilizing tobacco tax, media campaigns, smoke-free policies and clinical tobacco cessation interventions to quicken the speed at which smoking declines. Read the full report here, or click here for the related MMWR.

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International

Smoking in Canada hits all-time low in 2010 (Canada)
New data from the Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey indicate that the Canadian smoking rate dropped from 25% in 1999 to an all time low of 17% in 2010. Although smoking rates fell in all age groups, the prevalence of smoking among youth aged 15-17 was also an all-time low at 9%, which is seen as a particularly encouraging statistic for a group considered important to the success of tobacco control. The Canadian Minister of Health states that the survey results are encouraging because they show that more Canadians are making a healthy choice to stop smoking. Read more here, and see more about the survey methodology and results here.

Smoking rate hits historic low level (Hong Kong)
According to a report from the Tobacco Control Office of the Department of Health, 11.1% of the Hong Kong population smoked in 2010 - the lowest smoking prevalence on record since 1982. Although the head of the Tobacco Control Office and the Chairman of the Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health find this progress to be promising, they believe that Hong Kong still has work to do to further reduce the smoking rate. They suggest that Hong Kong introduce plain cigarette packaging, strengthen enforcement of smoke-free policies, and increase the tobacco tax. Read more here and click here to read the press release from the Tobacco Control Office.

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