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March 19, 2003 Contact: Bonnie Widerburg, (503) 731-4180 Technical contact: Mel A. Kohn, M.D., (503) 731-4023 Report shows Oregonians’ tobacco use declining faster than the rest of the nation New tobacco prevention report shows big drops in tobacco use, especially among Oregon’s youth and pregnant women
The latest data on tobacco released today shows Oregonians outpacing the national average in reducing tobacco use. Since 1996, overall cigarette consumption is down by almost 30 percent, a far steeper reduction than the rest of the nation. Young males are chewing tobacco considerably less and pregnant women are also smoking less. "Oregon’s comprehensive tobacco prevention and education program is a program that clearly gets results," said Jean I. Thorne, director, Oregon Department of Human Services. The DHS Tobacco Prevention and Education Program biennial report documents 2,600 fewer 11th grade males chewing tobacco today than in 1997. The rate dropped from almost 28 percent in 1997 to just 12.5 percent in 2002 — a 45 percent decline compared to the national reduction of 20 percent. The report also shows a 28 percent drop in smoking among pregnant women between 1996 and 2001 — a decline almost three times the national rate. "This translates into tremendous savings for Oregon," said Thorne. "The program’s current success results in savings of almost $40 million a year in direct medical costs. And about $10 million of these savings are in Oregon Health Plan costs." Mel A. Kohn, M.D., state epidemiologist, added that the current reduction in smoking among pregnant women alone results in 57 fewer low birth weight babies annually and saves more than $1 million every year in neonatal medical costs. "Since voters dedicated tobacco taxes to tobacco prevention in 1996, Oregon has made considerable progress," said Kohn. "Now that the program has been suspended until June 30, 2003, to balance the state budget, it’s important that tobacco prevention efforts are up and running again as soon as possible so Oregon can maintain its current success . . . and savings." |
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