Adult tobacco use data summary [Oct. 2012]

The Georgia Department of Public Health
2012 Data Summary
Adult Tobacco Use
Tobacco use costs Georgia more than 1.5 billion every year.1
DEATHS1 About 10,000 Georgia adults age 35 years and older die every year from tobacco-related illnesses that is one out of every six deaths among adult population 35 years and older.
More adult males 35 years and older (6,100) than adult females 35 years and older (3,700) die from tobaccorelated illnesses every year. Of the smoking attributable deaths among adults age 35 years and older; 4,300 (44%) deaths were due to cancer, 2,900 (29%) deaths were due to cardiovascular disease, and 2,700 (27%) deaths were due to respiratory disease (Figure 1). Adult smokers lose an average of 16 years of life compared to non-smoker adults.
SMOKING BEHAVIOR2 In 2011, approximately 1.5 million (21%) adult Georgians smoked cigarettes which is similar to the national prevalence (21%), while fewer Georgians (1.6 million; 22%) were former smokers when compared to the United States former smokers of 25%3.
Current Smokers More adult males (24%; 850,000) than adult females (18%; 670,000) smoke cigarettes. Smoking prevalence is slightly higher among adult Georgians aged 18-24 years (25%; 240,000) compared to adults aged 25-34 years (24%; 330,000), 35-44 years (23%; 320,000), 45-54 years (24%; 320,000), 55-64 years (19%; 200,000), and 65 years and older (11%; 110,000).
Note: Due to changes in survey methodology, the 2011 BRFSS smoking prevalence rate should not be compared with smoking rate from previous years.

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Oct 2012

Adult Tobacco Use Data Summary
Compared to Georgia, the U.S. smoking prevalence is higher among adults aged 25-34 years (24% vs. 29%) and lower among adults aged 18-24 years (25% vs. 24%) and adults 65 years and older (11% vs. 9%) (Figure 2)3. The Southeast (Waycross 9-2, 31%; 107,000), Northwest (Rome 1-1, 27%; 120,000), and South (Valdosta 8-1, 26%; 58,000) Health Districts have significantly higher smoking prevalence than the overall state average rate (21%; 1.5M) (Figure 3). Non-Hispanic (NH) white adults (24%; 1,000,000) are more likely to smoke than non-Hispanic black (17%; 350,000) and Hispanic (13%; 71,000) adults in Georgia. Smoking prevalence is two times as high among adults without health insurance (36%; 640,000) than adults with health insurance (18%; 760,000). Cigarette smoking is four times more common among adults without high school education (36%; 440,000) than among adults with college education (8%; 140,000) (Figure 4). Smoking prevalence is highest among adults with annual household income of less than $15K (35%; 310,000) and $15K-$24K (29%; 390,000) (Figure 5). According to the National Adult Tobacco Survey, more lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) adults smoke (33%; 55,000) than heterosexuals (19%; 1.2 million)4.
Former Smokers Among former adult smokers, about half (51%; 800,000) had quit smoking cigarettes in the past 10 or more years. While 11% (174,000) quit within the past 10 years, 20% (310,000) quit within the past 5 years, and 6% (96,000) quit within the past year. More males (25%; 891,000) are former smokers than females (19%; 700,000). More adults aged 65 years and older are former smokers (38%; 400,000) than adults aged 55-64 years (32%; 330,000), 45-54 years (23%; 310,000), 35-44 years

Adult Tobacco Use Data Summary
(15%; 200,000), 25-34 years (20%; 270,000) and 18-24 years (22%; 62,000).
SMOKELESS TOBACCO USE2 About 315,000 adults (representing 4% of Georgia adults) use smokeless tobacco. More males (8%; 260,000) than females (2%; 55,000) use smokeless tobacco. Use of smokeless tobacco is highest among adults who did not graduate from high school (8%; 98,000) (Figure 6).
SMOKING CESSATION2 Approximately 62% (940,000) of current adult smokers made a quit attempt in the past year. About the same percentage of males (61%; 515,000) as females (62%; 420,000) made a quit attempt in the past year. More individuals without health insurance (66%; 420,000) than those with health insurance (59%; 450,000) made a quit attempt in the past year. More non-Hispanic black adults (72%; 250,000) made a quit attempt in the past year compared to non-Hispanic white adults (57%; 580,000) (Figure 7).
SECONDHAND SMOKE EXPOSURE4 About 12% (850,000) of adults in Georgia were exposed to secondhand smoke at home, 19% (1.3 million) in a vehicle, 24% (970,000) at work, 32% (2.2 million) in a public place, and 45% (3 million) were exposed to any secondhand smoke on one or more days in the past seven days. About 47% (1.6 million) of males were exposed to secondhand smoke and 43% (1.6 million) of females were exposed to secondhand smoke. Among adults, 46% (490,000) of those with an annual household income of less than $20K were exposed to secondhand smoke, 51% (365,000) with income $20K-

Adult Tobacco Use Data Summary

$29K, 57% (350,000) with income $30K-$39K, 47% (350,000) with income $40K-$49K, 54% (576,000) with income $50K-$69K, and 36% (660,000) with income $70K and over. Secondhand smoke exposure is highest among adult females with an annual household income of $30-$39K (61%; 200,000) and highest among adult males with an annual household income of $50-$69K (58%; 340,000) (Figure 8). There is no difference in exposure to secondhand smoke by race/ethnicity (NH white 45%, 1.9 million versus NH black 46%, 913,000). Secondhand smoke exposure is highest among NH white adults with an annual household income of $30-$39K (60%; 240,000) and highest among NH black adults with an annual household income of $50-$69K (51%; 145,000). Adults with a college or professional degree were less likely to be exposed to secondhand smoke (35%; 600,000) when compared to those with a high school degree (47%; 1 million).

Adults without health insurance coverage were more likely to be exposed to secondhand smoke (57%; 1.1 million) when compared to those with health insurance coverage (41%; 2 million). LGBT adults were more likely to be exposed to secondhand smoke (65%; 110,000) than heterosexual adults (45%; 3 million).
FINANCIAL IMPACT Smoking results in $3.2 billion in lost productivity costs every year among Georgia adults age 35 years and older1. Smoking results in the loss of $1.8 billion in healthcare costs every year among Georgia adults age 18 years and older5.

Definitions: Adults are defined as non-institutionalized civilians 18 years and older unless otherwise stated. Cigarette smokers are defined as those who have smoked at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime and are currently smoking. Former smokers are defined as those who have smoked at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime and are not currently smoking. A quit attempt is defined as having stopped smoking for one day or longer during the past 12 months in an effort to quit smoking. Secondhand smoke exposure is defined as someone who was exposed to smoke in the workplace, inside a vehicle, at home, or in a public place on one or more day in the past seven days.

Data sources:

1.

Georgia Vital Statistics, 2004-2008; CDC SAMMEC web application (http://apps.need.cdc.gov/sammec/)

2.

2011 Georgia Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) Data.

3.

CDC Prevalence and Trends Data 2011 Tobacco Use. BRFSS (http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/brfss/)

4.

2009-2010 National Adult Tobacco Survey (ATS).

5.

Georgia Vital Statistics, 2003-2007; CDC SAMMEC web application (http://apps.need.cdc.gov/sammec/)

QUITTING TAKES PRACTICE!
The Georgia Tobacco Quit Line is available for all Georgians 13 years of age and older who want to quit using tobacco. To receive free counseling, support, and referral services call:

1-877-270-STOP (English)

1-877-2NO-FUME (Spanish)

1-877-777-6534 (Hearing Impaired)

http://www.livehealthygeorgia.org/quitline.shtml