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The tobacco industry's toll

Slow, spotty progress seen in state effort to snuff out use
Read complete article: Tulsa World, 2009-03-29
Author: JANET PEARSON Associate Editor

Summary:
Here's a news bulletin that'll blow your hair back: For the first time since such trends have been measured, Oklahoma now has as many former smokers as current smokers.

OK, maybe you didn't have to sit down to read that. But for a state that has consistently tallied higher-than-average tobacco-use rates -- and a state that has paid a higher-than-average price for the habit -- that is a rather stunning development.

There's more. Last year, again for the first time since such measurements have been taken, Oklahoma's tobacco-use rate among adults fell below 25 percent. It was a very slight decline, but still a decline. The national rate hovers between 19-20 percent.

With the federal tobacco tax set to rise dramatically on Wednesday -- by 62 cents a pack -- many Oklahoma tobacco-users are following in the footsteps of other former smokers and making a concerted effort to quit. If their efforts prove successful, there soon could be more good news on this front.

And in a state that consistently ranks near the bottom in health measures and near the top in illness-related consequences, any good news is welcome.

But sadly, there's as much bad news on the tobacco front. While declines have been noted among adults and teen males, increased usage has been seen among teen females and in the 18-24 age bracket in recent years. Use of smokeless tobacco has not declined.

And in some populations, usage remains horrifyingly high. Tribal authorities have estimated usage in some Indian communities in excess of 40 percent.

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