But new industry tactics to hook kids include smokeless tobacco and “little cigars”
Editor
Dec 14, 2011
Cigarette smoking among American youth has dropped to record lows, with just 11.7 percent of kids in grades 8, 10 and 12 reporting that they smoked in the past month.
The annual Monitoring the Future survey released today shows that since youth smoking rates peaked in the mid-1990s, they have dropped dramatically — by 71 percent among eighth graders, 61 percent among students in 10th grade and 49 percent among those in 12th grade.
Continue reading Teen Cigarette Smoking Drops to Record Lows
posted December 14, 2011
Tobacco use still responsible for one of five deaths in U.S.
Editor
Dec 9, 2011
Slow progress in bringing smoking rates down, coupled with dramatic increases in obesity and diabetes, mean the nation's overall health didn't improve in the past year.
United Health Foundation’s annual report, America’s Health Rankings, ranks states based on progress in fighting the causes of chronic diseases that are overburdening the health care system and driving up costs. States that showed the most improvement this year were New York and New Jersey — both of which advanced because of strides in reducing smoking.
Continue reading Let’s Get Healthier: Take Action for Change
posted December 09, 2011
Results due to Mayor Bloomberg’s leadership in pushing proven solutions
Editor
Sep 19, 2011
From New York City comes more evidence that we know how to win the fight against tobacco and just need the political will to implement proven solutions.
In New York, Mayor Michael Bloomberg has provided that political will by championing a comprehensive strategy that includes a high tobacco tax, comprehensive smoke-free law and hard-hitting media campaigns that discourage kids from smoking and encourage smokers to quit.
Continue reading New York City Reduces Smoking to Record Lows
posted September 19, 2011
But prevention cuts put progress at risk
Editor
Aug 10, 2011
Over the past decade, Indiana has reduced the smoking rate among adults by nearly a quarter, reaching an historic low for the state of 21.2 percent in 2010.
Indiana was in the forefront of tobacco control efforts following the 1998 settlement of state lawsuits against the tobacco industry. It established an independent agency—Indiana Tobacco Prevention and Cessation—and initially provided robust funding for programs to prevent kids from starting to smoke and help smokers quit.
But political will has waned, and funding has dropped steadily, threatening continued progress.
Continue reading Indiana Smoking Rate Drops to Historic Low
posted August 10, 2011
Golden State’s historic gains against tobacco set model for the nation
Editor
Aug 9, 2011
California recently reported that its aggressive tobacco control programs had reduced adult smoking to just 11.9 percent in 2010 — an historic low for the state.
That got us thinking: What would happen if the United States as a whole reduced smoking among adults from the current national rate of 20.6 percent to 11.9 percent?
Continue reading U.S. Can Save 5.4 Million Lives by Following California’s Lead
posted August 09, 2011
Long commitment to tobacco prevention, smoke-free policies bring dramatic decline
Editor
Jul 18, 2011
It's not just the sunny climate that gives the Golden State its healthy glow: The rate of smoking among California adults has just hit a record low, dropping to 11.9 percent.
California now joins Utah as one of two states in the nation to achieve the federal Healthy People 2020 target of reducing the prevalence of adult smoking to 12 percent. Nationally, the adult smoking rate is 20.6 percent, a level that's remained essentially unchanged since 2004.
Continue reading California Strikes Gold with Lowest-Ever Smoking Rate
posted July 18, 2011
Our Blog Posts
