State

New West Virginia smoking numbers: Less than previously thought (WV)
A new report finds that the prevalence of adult smoking in West Virginia is less than expected. Researchers from the West Virginia University’s School of Public Health along with the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health’s Division of Tobacco Prevention (WVDTP) conducted a telephone survey of 2,132 adults that found that 23.9% of adults were smokers in the state. While a direct comparison with previous estimates is not possible due to the survey methodology, this number was lower than what was expected by the researchers, and it was attributed to statewide efforts dedicated to smoking prevention and cessation. This study also assessed smoking and sexual orientation and determined that respondents identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) were far more likely to be smokers compared to the general population; almost 41% of those identified as LGBT were smokers. Higher smoking rates were also found among respondents who were 25-34 years old and those who had not completed high school. Additionally, more men smoked compared to women. Click here to read more about this study. Click here to access the full report.

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National

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Sortable Stats tool
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released Sortable Stats, an interactive data set comprised of behavioral risk factors and health indicators. This data set compiles state level data for the 50 states, DC, and U.S. territories from various published CDC and federal sources into a format that allows users to view, sort, and analyze data at state, regional, and national levels. This tool is intended to serve as a resource to promote policy, system, and environmental changes. Data on tobacco use by adults and youth are available under 'Risk Factors.' Click here to read more and to access this data.

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International

For Americans under 50, stark findings on health
According to a recent publication from the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council titled, “U.S. Health in International Perspective: Shorter Lives, Poorer Health,” Americans under 50 ranked poorly in terms of health and mortality rates compared to other developed countries. Deaths before the age of 50 were assessed in 17 countries that included the U.S., Canada, Japan, Australia, France, and Germany. A panel of experts compared the death rates and health measures for people of all ages. American men ranked last in life expectancy, and American women ranked second to last. Car accidents, gun violence and drug overdoses were major contributors to years of life lost by Americans before age 50. Americans were at the bottom of the rankings for many smoking-related diseases such as heart and lung disease. Regardless of educational level and socioeconomic status, rankings were low for Americans compared to other high-income countries. Click here to read more about this study. Click here to access the full report.

Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems: International tobacco control four-country survey
A new study examined the awareness of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS), or e-cigarettes, among current and former smokers in four countries. This study assessed data gathered from Wave 8 of the International Tobacco Control Four-Country Survey conducted July 2010 through June 2011 among 5,939 current and former smokers in Canada, the U.S., the United Kingdom, and Australia. Almost half (46.6%) were aware of ENDS, and 7.6% had tried them. Those who were aware of ENDS were more likely to be younger, non-minority smokers with higher incomes; they were also heavier smokers. Those that had tried ENDS were more likely to be younger, nondaily smokers, higher income earners, and to perceive ENDS as less harmful than traditional cigarettes. The vast majority (79.8%) reported that they believed ENDS were less harmful than regular cigarettes, ENDS helped them reduce their smoking (75.4%), and that they used ENDS to help them quit smoking (85.1%). ENDS are growing in popularity, however, little is known about the health effects of these products. Click here to read the study abstract published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

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