National

One in five U.S. adults smoke, tied for all-time low
Gallup poll results from 2012 report that smoking rates among adults in the U.S. are the lowest since 1944. The annual Gallup poll conducted on July 9-12, 2012 report that 20% of adults in the U.S. had smoked a cigarette within a week of the poll. Poll trends since 2001 also show a decline in smoking rates among young adults, college non-graduates, and participants living in the East and West coasts. To access the report, click here.

Special journal issue: Impact of tobacco control on lung cancer mortality in the United States over the period 1975–2000
Thousands of lung cancer deaths were avoided as a result of the publication of Surgeon General’s reports (SGR) between 1975 and 2000, the online journal Risk Analysis concludes in a special issue highlighting the work of the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Intervention and Surveillance Modeling Network. Over 795,000 lung cancer deaths were averted due to changes in smoking behavior during the twenty-five year period that the SGRs were published. However, this is only about 30% of the lung cancer deaths that could have been averted if smoking had been completely eliminated during that time period. SGRs have made a significant impact on smoking behaviors, but further tobacco control measures need to be implemented in order to reduce tobacco-related mortality rates. Click here to view the table of contents of the supplement. Click here to read the abstract of the final article in the supplement, which sums up the findings of the research groups that contributed to the supplement.

Home stress, work stress linked with increased smoking
An association between work-family conflict and smoking has been found according to a new study published in the American Journal of Public Health. Work-family conflict is a situation where expectations or demands from one situation, affects the other. Harvard School of Public Health researchers analyzed the results of 452 interviews with long-term care facility workers from New England in 2006 and 2007. The data showed that directionality was a factor; workers who reported home-to-work conflict were twice as likely to smoke, while those reporting work-to-home conflict were only 1.6 more likely to smoke. The greater likelihood to smoke in home-to-work conflict situations could be attributed to the psychological importance placed on personal and family life compared to work life. Future smoking interventions should include methods to reduce work-family conflict. Click here to read more. Click here to access the study abstract.

Current tobacco use among adults in the United States: Findings from the National Adult Tobacco Survey
Data from a national tobacco survey indicate that tobacco use is still prevalent among adults in the United States. Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) assessed the prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of tobacco use among adults ages 18 and older in the U.S by analyzing data from the 2009-2010 National Adult Tobacco Survey. Nationally, 25.2% of the participants used any form of tobacco. With regard to type of tobacco used, 19.5% of respondents were cigarette smokers, 6.6% used cigars, cigarillos, or small cigars, 3.4% were chewing tobacco, snuff, or dip users, and very few used either water pipes (1.5%) or pipes (1.1%). Tobacco use was more prevalent among respondents who were male, younger, less educated, less wealthy, of non-Hispanic “other” race/ethnicity, or lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT). Tobacco is still widely used by adults in the U.S., and evidence-based cessation strategies are needed to reduce the burden of health and economic disparities attributed to tobacco use. Click here to read the study abstract published in the American Journal of Public Health. Click here to read the statement released by The Network for LGBT Health Equity at the Fenway Institute on how this study sheds light on tobacco use in the LGBT community.

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International

New survey: Indonesia has highest male smoking rate in the world (Indonesia)
A recent survey reports that Indonesia has the highest prevalence in the world of smoking among males. The findings from the World Health Organization (WHO) and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) survey of over 8,000 people in fifteen countries showed that 67% of all males over fifteen years of age in Indonesia smoked. Additionally, approximately 80% of Indonesians are exposed to secondhand smoke in their homes. These high rates are attributed to a lack of tobacco control policies and programs and the heavy presence of tobacco industry sponsorship and promotions. Click here to read more about this report. Click here to read the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids’ statement on this report. To access the CDC’s fact sheet on this report, click here.

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