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Cigarette smoking prevalence in US counties: 1996-2012 - A few counties responsible for smoking rate decline – Population Health Metrics. Smoking rates are decreasing across the country, but those declines may be driven by relatively few counties that have big populations or are part of larger cities, according to a new study. Researchers say these counties are usually near metropolitan areas, where clean air legislation, along with resources and social stigma could be driving the decrease. Read a summary of the findings here in USA Today.

How to make communities healthier with healthy stores (CA) – California Department of Public Health’s Healthy Stores for a Healthy Community Campaign. A survey of 7,393 markets analyzed the availability of tobacco, alcohol, and food products in stores throughout California. A staggering percentage of stores that sell tobacco products are located near schools and in low-income communities. More stores sell alcohol than fresh fruits or vegetables, and 39% place tobacco products near candy. In many stores, flavored cigarillos are cheaper than a pack of gum.

Report: Tobacco use declining in South Carolina (SC) – ABC News (WCIV). Since 2007, South Carolina’s smoking prevalence has dropped nearly 19% among high school students and 8% among adults, according to a release from the S.C. Tobacco-Free Collaborative. The report cites increased cigarette taxes, more smoke-free communities, and an increase in tobacco-free school districts and college campuses as three measures that have contributed to the decrease in the number of South Carolinians who smoke. Click here to read the full report.

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