• Preventing youth from beginning tobacco use

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• Reducing exposure to secondhand smoke

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Tobacco Facts

Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Every year, tobacco claims more lives than AIDS, alcohol, drug abuse, car crashes, murders, suicides, and fires combined.

In Washington,
tobacco-related diseases kill 8,300 people a year.

Washington spends $1.5 billion each year in health care costs resulting from tobacco use.

In Washington, 55 kids will start smoking every day.

CONTACT:
Terry Reid
Department of Health
PO Box 47848
Olympia, WA 98504
(360) 236-3665
terry.reid@doh.wa.gov

Tobacco Program Budget

The $29 million Tobacco Prevention and Control Program is funded primarily by money received as Washington’s share of the national settlement with the major tobacco companies and supplemented by funds from a 2002 increase in the state tobacco sales tax and federal funds.


Toll-Free Quit Line Numbers

1-877-270-STOP
1-877-2 NO FUME
1-877-777-6534 (Hearing impaired)

Visit the youth Web site at: NoStankYou.com

For more information on tobacco prevention:
www.doh.wa.gov/tobacco/

Find out more about secondhand smoke: SmokeFreeWashington.com

Find out more about the tobacco quit line at:
Quitline.com

Tobacco Program Saving Kids’ Lives

March 2003

Our comprehensive Tobacco Prevention and Control program began about three years ago. In the first survey results of kids in sixth, eighth, 10^th, and 12^th grades since then, results show the program is making significant progress in reducing youth smoking.

During fall 2002, more than 137,000 students in 752 schools took the survey, including nearly 25,000 in the state sample. The surveys show that there has been a drop in the number of kids smoking across the state since the program began.

• 6^th grade smoking dropped from 4.7 percent in 1998 to 2.2 percent in 2002. That’s a 53 percent decrease.*

• 8^th grade smoking dropped from 15.2 percent in 1998 to 9.2 percent in 2002. That’s a 39 percent decrease.*

• 10^th grade smoking dropped from 25 percent in 1999 to 15 percent in 2002. That’s a 40 percent decrease.*

• 12^th grade smoking dropped from 35.2 percent in 1999 to 22.7 percent in 2002. That’s a 36 percent decrease.*

* Statistically significant declines

The reductions in smoking exceed the national rate of decline of 22 percent (for grades 9-12 from 1997-2001).

Overall, there are now about 53,000 fewer youth who smoke in our state. There still are about 85,000 youth who smoke in Washington. (Both figures are adjusted to Census 2000 population).

The survey also shows that fewer kids are trying tobacco.

• There was a 21 percent decrease in the number of 8^th graders who tried a cigarette.

• There was a 41 percent decrease in the number of 10^th graders who tried a cigarette.

• There was a 29 percent decrease in the number of 12^th graders who tried a cigarette.

This reduction in smoking rates will give many youth the chance to live longer and healthier lives and is projected to save the state an estimated $640 million in future medical costs.

Results by gender (2000-2002)

Boys versus Girls

Overall, the number of girls smoking dropped more than boys.

6^th grade
Girls: Declined from 3.9 percent to 1.8 percent – a 54 percent drop*
Boys: Declined from 4.1 percent to 2.6 percent – a 37 percent drop*

8^th grade
Girls: Declined from 14.5 percent to 9.2 percent – a 37 percent drop*
Boys: Declined from 10.3 percent to 9 percent – a 13 percent drop

10^th grade
Girls: Declined from 21.8 percent to 15.2 percent – a 30 percent drop*
Boys: Declined from 17.5 percent to 14.7 percent – a 16 percent drop

12^th grade
Girls: Declined from 29.3 percent to 22 percent – a 25 percent drop*
Boys: Declined from 26.1 percent to 23.4 percent – a 10 percent drop

There is still much work to be done

Use of other tobacco products

Overall, cigarette use declined while other forms of tobacco use increased. For example, among 8^th graders, the prevalence of current tobacco use for specific products was:

		2000	2002
Smokeless tobacco		2.1 percent	2.7 percent
Cigar		4.3 percent	8.3 percent
Bidi		3.3 percent	6.8 percent
Pipe		2.1 percent	5.6 percent

* Statistically significant declines

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Mailing Address:
PO BOX 47848
Olympia WA 98504-7848

Fax: (360) 236-3646

Last Update : 07/11/2008 02:37 PM
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