U.S. - smoking prevalence not falling fast enough..

March 13, 2009 - CDC report - State-Specific Prevalence and Trends in Adult Cigarette Smoking --- United States, 1998--2007. CDC analyzed data from the 2007 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey (from 430,912 respondents) and examined trends in cigarette smoking from 1998--2007.

During 2007, an estimated 19.8% of adults in the United States were current smokers. Among states, current smoking prevalence was highest in Kentucky (28.3%), West Virginia (27.0%), and Oklahoma (25.8%); and lowest in Utah (11.7%), California (14.3%), and Connecticut (15.5%). Smoking prevalence was 8.7% in U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), 12.2% in PR, and 31.1% in Guam. Median smoking prevalence among the 50 states and DC was 21.3% (range: 15.5%--28.8%) for men and 18.4% (range: 8.0%--27.8%) for women. Men had a significantly higher prevalence of smoking than women in 30 states, DC, and all three territories.

Trend analyses of 1998--2007 data indicated that smoking prevalence decreased in 44 states, DC, and PR, and six states had no substantial changes in prevalence after controlling for age, sex, and race/ethnicity. Only Utah and USVI met the Healthy People 2010 target for reducing adult smoking prevalence to 12%.

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) calls for full implementation of comprehensive, evidence-based tobacco control programs at CDC-recommended funding levels to achieve substantial reductions in tobacco use in all states and areas.4).

Cigarette smoking in the United States causes about 443,000 premature deaths and is responsible for $193 billion in direct health-care costs and productivity losses each year, the CDC said. According to the Institute of Medicine, full implementation of comprehensive, evidence-based tobacco-control programs at CDC-recommended funding levels are needed to achieve major reductions in tobacco use in all states and areas.

Reference: State-Specific Prevalence and Trends in Adult Cigarette Smoking --- United States, 1998--2007, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), March 13, 2009 / 58(09);221-226