|
Lower
Cigarette Usage: Hawai'i's population consistently
reports lower rates of cigarette use among both youth
and adults than the population of the United States
as a whole. About 17 percent of Hawai'i's
adult population and 8 percent of Hawai'i's youth report
being cigarette smokers (U.S. adult, 20 percent; U.S. youth, 11 percent).
Between
1990 and 2006, cigarette use declined 17 percent among
adults. For youth, cigarette use declined 25 percent
since 1999. Hawaii's rate of cigarette use ranks
among the lowest of all States.
While
progress has been made, for Hawai'i and the nation,
reported cigarette use among adults continues to be
above the "Healthy People 2010" objective
of 12 percent.
More Males Smoke: Smoking behavior
differs between males and females, with a higher percentage
of males reporting cigarette use. In 2006, 19 percent
of males aged 18 and older smoked, compared with 16
percent of females.1
Cigarette Consumption based on Taxed Sales:
U.S. cigarette consumption levels have fallen dramatically
from their high in 1963. While Hawai'i per capita
usage has also dropped significantly over the past 40
years, Hawai'i has experienced an increase in cigarette
consumption since the turn of the century.2
Based on these data, the gap between the U.S. and Hawai'i
is narrowing.
Consequences of Tobacco Use: Tobacco
use is a serious public health problem in Hawai'i. It
causes more preventable diseases, death, and disability
than any other health issue in the state. Currently
in Hawai'i, tobacco use accounts for 16 percent of deaths
and annually costs $262 million in direct medical expenditures
and an additional $263 million in lost productivity.
Efforts to address tobacco prevention and control in
Hawai'i will require a comprehensive approach involving
prevention, cessation, policy changes, reducing exposure
to secondhand smoke, and identifying and eliminating
disparities in tobacco use among groups and geographic
locations.3
|
 |
