Fewer adults say they smoke

OLYMPIA – Fewer adults are smoking in Washington, but state health officials said Wednesday the numbers among low-income adults and those with less education are not encouraging.

A recent survey found Washington’s adult smoking rate has dropped about 25 percent since 2000, which means about 240,000 fewer people smoked in 2007 than in 2000. About 16.5 percent of Washington adults smoked in 2007. That’s below the national average of nearly 20 percent.

The Washington survey was part of a national health study conducted by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2007 by telephone with randomly selected adults.

“Our state’s commitment to tobacco prevention is making a big difference. People are quitting smoking and Washington is healthier because of it,” Gov. Chris Gregoire said Wednesday in a statement.

The CDC says Washington has the sixth-lowest smoking rate in the nation. The five states with lower smoking rates are Utah, California, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Minnesota. Oregon and Hawaii follow Washington in the rankings.

Most of the people who smoke in Washington either have low incomes – less than $25,000 a year – or are less educated. The smoking rate for people with low incomes is 32 percent. The rate for people with a high school diploma or less is 27 percent.

For people with an education beyond high school, the smoking rate is 12 percent. For those with an income above $25,000, the smoking rate is 14 percent.

The state is targeting low-income smokers by offering free help, including nicotine patches and gum to people on Medicaid.

A Tobacco Quit Line (1-800-Quit-Now and in Spanish, 1-877-2No-Fume) offers free assistance to all residents of Washington, not just those on Medicaid.

“I know quitting smoking is tough. We’re trying to provide people the help and support they need to succeed,” Washington Secretary of Health Mary Selecky said.

Smoking rates in Washington are also higher for some minority groups. Compared with whites, smoking rates are significantly higher among African-Americans, American Indians and Alaska Natives. Lesbians, gays and bisexuals also have higher rates, health officials said.

About 45 young people start smoking every day in Washington, but the rate of smoking among youth has been cut in half since the state started targeting youth smoking in 2000.

Youth health studies have found that about 15 percent of Washington’s 10th-graders smoke and about 20 percent of 12th-graders, Health Department spokesman Tim Church said. The goal is to prevent youth smoking, because almost no one starts smoking after he or she turns 18, he added.