CDC study shows adult smoking rates falling in Arizona

CDC study shows adult smoking rates falling in Arizona

ArticlePress release
Health & Wellness
Diseases & Conditions

CDC study shows adult smoking rates falling in Arizona

Smoking prevalence among adults in Arizona dropped significantly following the implementation of a state tobacco education and prevention program the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported today.

According to the report, which is published in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, smoking among adults in Arizona dropped from 23.1 percent in 1996 to 18.3 percent in 1999.

"These findings are a positive sign that education and prevention programs do work," said CDC Director, Dr. Jeffrey Koplan. "If every state implemented programs like those in Arizona, we could expect to cut the adult smoking rate by half during the next decade." Koplan estimates that such a reduction in smoking would prevent more than 3 million premature deaths from smoking-related diseases.

In 1994, Arizona passed legislation increasing the tax on cigarettes from 18 cents to 58 cents, and allocated 23 percent of the resulting revenues for tobacco control activities. Following the implementation of the states’ education and prevention program, smoking prevalence declined for women, men, whites, and Hispanics. Other findings of the study include:

Low income and low education groups reported less smoking, indicating a decrease in disparities in cigarette use.


An increase in the proportion of smokers who reported that a health professional had asked them about tobacco use and advised them to quit.


The Arizona Tobacco Education and Prevention Program (TEPP) incorporates all nine components of a comprehensive tobacco control program as recommended by CDC’s Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs.

Arizona Department of Health Services Director Catherine Eden said the CDC report provides further evidence that Arizona's anti-tobacco program is working. "We're hopeful the rest of the nation soon will join us in the battle against public health enemy number one," Eden said. "This report again affirms how far we've come in the fight to curb the deadly habits of smoking and spit tobacco."

To obtain a copy of the MMWR article, please contact the CDC, Office on Smoking and Health at (770) 488-5705 (press 2 for publications). The MMWR article will be available online at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/ after 4 p.m. EST.

CDC protects people's health and safety by preventing and controlling diseases and injuries; enhances health decisions by providing credible information on critical health issues; and promotes healthy living through strong partnerships with local, national, and international organizations.

Was this article helpful

On the Article

Subramanian Malaisamy MD, MRCP (UK), FCCP (USA) picture
Approved by

Subramanian Malaisamy MD, MRCP (UK), FCCP (USA)

Associate Chief Medical Officer, Medical Editorial Board, DoveMed Team

0 Comments

Please log in to post a comment.

Related Articles

Test Your Knowledge

Asked by users

Related Centers

Loading

Related Specialties

Loading card

Related Physicians

Related Procedures

Related Resources

Join DoveHubs

and connect with fellow professionals

Related Directories

Who we are

At DoveMed, our utmost priority is your well-being. We are an online medical resource dedicated to providing you with accurate and up-to-date information on a wide range of medical topics. But we're more than just an information hub - we genuinely care about your health journey. That's why we offer a variety of products tailored for both healthcare consumers and professionals, because we believe in empowering everyone involved in the care process.
Our mission is to create a user-friendly healthcare technology portal that helps you make better decisions about your overall health and well-being. We understand that navigating the complexities of healthcare can be overwhelming, so we strive to be a reliable and compassionate companion on your path to wellness.
As an impartial and trusted online resource, we connect healthcare seekers, physicians, and hospitals in a marketplace that promotes a higher quality, easy-to-use healthcare experience. You can trust that our content is unbiased and impartial, as it is trusted by physicians, researchers, and university professors around the globe. Importantly, we are not influenced or owned by any pharmaceutical, medical, or media companies. At DoveMed, we are a group of passionate individuals who deeply care about improving health and wellness for people everywhere. Your well-being is at the heart of everything we do.

© 2023 DoveMed. All rights reserved. It is not the intention of DoveMed to provide specific medical advice. DoveMed urges its users to consult a qualified healthcare professional for diagnosis and answers to their personal medical questions. Always call 911 (or your local emergency number) if you have a medical emergency!