September 2, 2009 in City

Wash. smoking rate hits new low for 6th year

Associated Press
 
Tags:smokerssmokingtobaccotobacco prevention

OLYMPIA — A state Health Department Survey has found fewer adults are smoking tobacco in Washington. The survey found 15.3 percent of Washington adults smoked in 2008, down from 16.5 percent the previous year.

Smoking rates have hit a new low for the sixth consecutive year. Health officials say Washington also has the sixth lowest smoking rate in the nation and is well below the national smoking rate of 18.4 percent.

Gov. Chris Gregoire says tobacco prevention programs are saving lives and saving the state billions of dollars in future health care costs.

The state’s adult smoking rate has dropped by more than 30 percent since the state began its Tobacco Prevention and Control Program in 2000.

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Four comments on this story so far. Add yours!

  • Tolagai on September 02 at 2:24 p.m.

    Must be some other study - or everyone questioned lied. Everywhere I turn I see a cigarette in someone’s mouth sucking the very life out of the tobacco. Honestly, about 5 out of 10 people I see are smoking.

  • ginniet on September 02 at 2:54 p.m.

    K ST—It depends on what part of town you’re in! My husband still smokes, mostly because he started when he was 12, and that was 47 years ago. Among the people we hang out with, he’s the only one who smokes, and I keep pointing out that fact to him. It seems to be a lower-class activity these days. I can’t think of anyone who’s well educated or higher income who smokes.

  • pj on September 02 at 5:36 p.m.

    Well if they survey by tobacco sales in Washington, Idaho sales are up !!

  • pj on September 02 at 5:45 p.m.

    Gess, I don’t think much of people that think they are better or “upper-crust” just because some can afford a better education or kissed someones **** to get a position… Walk a mile in their shoes… just a mile and see who has the better out look on life. “Low - class ” should be re-worded to “less fortunate”

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