CDC Data: Tobacco Use Lowest Among Hispanics

 WASHINGTON - New CDC Report Describes Multi-Product Tobacco Users
Men and young adults among those most likely to smoke cigarettes and use
other forms of tobacco 

The use of cigarettes in combination with other forms of tobacco is
linked with higher nicotine addition, the inability to quit using
tobacco, and increases chances of tobacco-related health problems, such
as stroke, heart disease, and tobacco-related cancers, according to an
analysis of data from the 2008 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance
System (BRFSS). 

Data from 13 states surveyed indicate that polytobacco use, the use of
cigarettes in combination with other forms of tobacco (including cigars;
pipes; bidis, a South Asian cigarette wrapped in a leaf; kreteks, a
cigarette made with tobacco, cloves and other flavors; and others), is
most common among men (4.4 percent), people who were single (4.8
percent), young adults ages 18-24 years (5.7 percent), and those with
household incomes less than $35,000 (9.8 percent).

The report, "Any Tobacco Use in 13 States-Behavioral Risk Factor
Surveillance System, 2008," provides statistics about polytobaocco use
among adults over the age of 18. The report also finds that 1 in 4
adults in these states use at least one form of tobacco, such as
cigarettes, cigars, or smokeless tobacco. 

"Every day smoking kills more than 1,000 people and is the leading
preventable cause of death," said CDC Director Thomas R. Frieden, M.D.,
M.P.H. "The more types of tobacco products people use, the greater
their risk for many diseases caused by tobacco, such as cancer and heart
disease." 

Other key highlights from the report include the following:
* Use of any tobacco ranged from 18.4 percent in New Jersey to 35
percent in West Virginia.
* Use of any tobacco was higher among non-Hispanic whites (26.2 percent)
and non-Hispanic blacks (24.4 percent) than among Hispanics (19.7
percent).
* Use of any tobacco was higher among members of an unmarried couple
(36.3 percent), single (30.3 percent), or widowed/divorced (29.1
percent) than among married persons (21.2 percent).
* Use of any tobacco was higher among those who had less than a high
school education (33.1 percent) when compared to those with some college
or more (20.5 percent).
* Polytobacco use ranged from 1.0 percent in New Jersey to 3.7 percent
in West Virginia.