Indiana ranks second highest in U.S. adult smoking rate

By Karla Sneegas

Public health officials, health organizations and health care professionals shared startling news when they gathered in Washington D.C. in July for the 13th World Conference on Tobacco or Health.

Tobacco use is killing a person every six seconds around the world and if trends do not change by 2020, tobacco will kill someone every three seconds. All told, tobacco will kill a billion people this century, 10 times the toll it took in the 20th century.

After hearing numbers, such as this it might lead one to ask, "What does a world conference on tobacco use reduction have to do with our normal lives in the Hoosier state?" Tobacco related diseases account for more deaths in Indiana than any other cause. When it comes to adult smoking in Indiana, the numbers have careened out of control, making this already-serious problem even more alarming.

Data from the 2005 Indiana Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System survey show that Indiana's adult smoking rate increased from 24.9 percent in 2004 to 27.3 percent in 2005; this figure represents a troubling reversal from just two years ago when the smoking rate declined from 27.7 percent in 2002 to 24.9 percent in 2004.

As a result, Indiana is in the unenviable position of having the nation's second highest adult smoking rate in the U.S., with only the commonwealth of Kentucky "ahead" of the Hoosier state in smoking rates.

The reversal of our progress to drive down tobacco rates, sad to say, is not a surprise.

Funding for Indiana's tobacco prevention and cessation program was cut by almost 70 percent from $32.5 million in 2003 to the present annual amount of $10.8 million. At the same time, our state's cigarette tax rate remains well below the national and Midwest average.

Meanwhile, the tobacco companies have increased the amount of marketing dollars they spend in Indiana to a record $475 million, amounting to 44 times what the state invests in programs to prevent kids from smoking and help smokers quit. Tobacco product marketing, since the settlement between the attorney general's and tobacco industry, has shifted drastically to young adults ages 18-24. Indiana's rate of smoking among this age group increased from 28.2 percent in 2004 to 39 percent in 2005.

Just recently, central Indiana was selected as the site for test marketing a new smokeless, spitless tobacco product, further damaging Indiana's image as unhealthy. This product appears as though it will be marketed to current smokers who are working in environments that do not allow smoking. Its design enables these smokers to maintain their addiction.

On another front, the number of Hoosiers protected from secondhand smoke by local smoke free air laws increased from three percent in 2000 to more than 33 percent today. These efforts impact our citizens' ability to breathe healthier air, and also serve to encourage smokers to try and quit and discourage youth from starting to smoke.

There is no "magic wand" that can be waved to suddenly reverse Indiana's troubling tobacco use statistics. Indiana was headed on a hopeful trend when resources were severely cut. Adequate and consistent funding, together with a strong public policy that is consistent and builds over time, is critical. So, too, is programming that is comprehensive and heavily integrated with the best practices as prescribed by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

The pay off? Hoosiers will enjoy greater freedom from the strong-armed influence of the tobacco industry and their addictive products.

Karla Sneegas serves as the executive director of Indiana Tobacco Prevention Cessation agency in Indianapolis.

Last updated on 25 Apr 2008

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