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PHOM Indicator Report of Smoking Among AdultsWhy Is This Important?Tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of death and disease in the United States. In Utah, smoking claims more than 1,150 lives each year. It causes or worsens nearly every chronic condition and contributes to Utah's primary causes of death including heart disease, respiratory disease, and cancer. Smoking increases the risk for cancer of the lungs, larynx, esophagus, mouth, and bladder and contributes to cancer of the cervix, pancreas, and kidneys. Exposure to secondhand smoke increases the risk for heart disease and lung cancer among nonsmokers.
Data Sources
Data NotesAge-adjusted to U.S. 2000 population.Note: At the time of this update, the BRFSS U.S. dataset did not include an age variable but did include five age categories up to age 80+ (vs. the typical weighting scheme that includes 85+). Comparisons with both weighting schemes were compared using Utah data, and the difference was about 1/100 of a percentage point. Risk FactorsCigarette smoking is more common among persons with lower levels of formal education and among those in lower income groups.How Are We Doing?Utah's adult smoking rate has decreased since the Utah Department of Health Tobacco Prevention and Control Program started receiving Master Settlement Agreement funds in 2000.People with low household income and fewer years of formal education report higher rates of tobacco use than the general population. Recent surveys show that approximately 75% of Utah smokers intend to quit within the next year. Comprehensive and free tobacco cessation services help Utah smokers quit successfully and ensure declines in tobacco use rates among all population groups. What Is Being Done?The Tobacco Prevention and Control Program (TPCP) at the Utah Department of Health and its partners use comprehensive programs to prevent young people from starting to use tobacco, help tobacco users quit, promote tobacco-free environments, and reduce tobacco-related disparities. These programs include an extensive anti-tobacco marketing campaign, free and confidential tobacco cessation services, school- and community-based prevention programs, and efforts to improve tobacco policies. Tobacco-free policies support tobacco-free norms and protect nonsmokers from secondhand smoke. The marketing campaign uses television, radio, billboard, print, and on-line media to reach youth, adults, pregnant women, racial and ethnic minorities, and rural populations with anti-tobacco messages. The campaign's goals are to counter tobacco industry promotions, inform Utahns about quitting services, and support local tobacco control efforts. Quitting services available to Utahns are accessible through Utah's tobacco cessation web site, waytoquit.org, and include a toll-free Tobacco Quit Line (1-800-QUIT-NOW) and a web-based tobacco cessation program. TPCP also partners with community health clinics to offer counseling services for uninsured or under-insured tobacco users. Local health departments hold group-based quitting classes for adults and youth in local communities. Efforts to protect nonsmokers from secondhand smoke focus on strengthening tobacco-free policies in apartment complexes, workplaces, schools, and outdoor venues frequented by children.Healthy People Objective TU-1.1:Reduce tobacco use by adults: Cigarette smokingU.S. Target: 12.0 percent State Target: 9.0 percent Date Indicator Content Last Updated: 10/29/2014Other Views
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