New survey results show Washington’s adult smoking rate has dropped to a new low of 14.8 percent, down from 15.3 percent the previous year.
State Department of Health spokesman Tim Church says the atest drop in smoking means thousands of people will be spared early, tobacco-related deaths and the state will save billions of dollars in future health care costs.
Washington Health Department spokesman Tim Church on state’s latest smoking numbers.
Since the state started its Tobacco Prevention and Control Program in 2000, the smoking rate has declined by about a third. The drop translates to 105,000 people spared early tobacco-related deaths and $3 billion saved in future healthcare costs.
Church explains what led to Washington’s numbers to decline.
Despite the gains, the smoking rates among people from low income or with lower educational backgrounds remain high at 29 and 27 percent, respectively. While people with lower incomes try to quit as often as people with higher incomes, they are less successful.
Health officials are also concerned over the increased use of smokeless tobacco.
Church says smokeless tobacco use is a concern.
The tobacco industry spends more than $146 million each year in Washington to market its products. About 45 youth start smoking each day and about 7,500 people in the state die every year from tobacco-related diseases.
More information about quitting tobacco is provided online at www.quitline.com.
