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New report says high levels of tobacco use persist in rural areas like St. Lawrence County, at 27 percent of adults

Posted 8/19/12

The American Lung Association has released its latest lung health disparity report, “Cutting Tobacco’s Rural Roots: Tobacco Use in Rural Communities,” which examines tobacco addiction and …

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New report says high levels of tobacco use persist in rural areas like St. Lawrence County, at 27 percent of adults

Posted

The American Lung Association has released its latest lung health disparity report, “Cutting Tobacco’s Rural Roots: Tobacco Use in Rural Communities,” which examines tobacco addiction and exposure to secondhand smoke in rural communities, like those in St. Lawrence County, particularly among rural youth.

In St. Lawrence County, 27 percent of adults use tobacco, which is well above the New York State average of 15.5 percent, according to St. Lawrence County Tobacco Program Coordinator Benjamin R. Todd.

Eighty-eight percent of adult smokers report starting prior to the age of 18, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Tobacco use is higher in rural communities than in suburban and urban communities, and smokeless tobacco use has become twice as common.

A Gallup-Healthways poll showed that individuals in the U.S. with the lowest incomes were six times more likely to report smoking than those in higher income brackets.

Rural youth are more likely to use tobacco and to start earlier than urban youth, perpetuating the cycle of tobacco addiction and death and disease, according to the Lung Assocation repoprt.

“Tobacco use is often more socially acceptable in rural areas, making it more likely that kids living in these communities will also start to use tobacco,” said Jeff Seyler, President and CEO of the American Lung Association of the Northeast. “When you look at the percentage of New York residents living in rural areas it may not seem especially significant, but that percentage equates to 2.3 million New Yorkers who are at increased risk for tobacco-related disease. It is imperative that they have access to the quit-smoking resources they need."

There are a number of environmental and social factors that contribute to this generational cycle of tobacco use among youth and adults in rural America. Increased tobacco use is associated with lower education levels and lower income, which are both common in rural areas where there may be fewer opportunities for educational and economic advancement.

Exposure to secondhand smoke is also higher as rural communities are less likely to have smokefree air laws in place and residents are less likely to refuse to allow smoking in their homes or other indoor places.

A number of municipalities in St. Lawrence County have adopted some form of a tobacco-free parks policy, including Norwood, Massena, Canton, Potsdam, Waddington, Gouverneur, Madrid, Clifton, Fine and, most recently, Parishville. The City of Ogdensburg is currently considering ways to safeguard their playgrounds from secondhand smoke and tobacco litter.

“Tobacco use in family‐friendly places such as playgrounds, parks and athletic events models unhealthy behavior and normalizes the use of tobacco,” said Todd. “When children see adults smoking, they see smoking as acceptable.”

Over the past several years, the tobacco industry’s marketing of smokeless tobacco products has greatly increased. As the tobacco industry spends millions of dollars targeting rural youth, youth are less likely to be exposed to tobacco counter-marketing campaigns.

The recent decision by Family Dollar to start selling cigarettes and other tobacco products is an indicator that tobacco marketers understand that those who earn the least purchase the most tobacco, Todd said.

“This report is a valuable tool that aligns with New York State’s policy-focused, population-based Tobacco Control Program aimed at reducing cigarette usage in our communities,” said State Health Commissioner Nirav R. Shah, M.D., M.P.H. “The Health Department's anti-tobacco media campaigns, strong Medicaid smoking cessation benefit and other program activities and actions are important resources for all New Yorkers, including our rural residents."

The American Lung Association in New York is urging government agencies, the research and funding community, health systems and insurers, community leaders, schools and families to take steps to cut tobacco’s rural entrenchment.

The association’s report can be viewed at http://www.lung.org/rural-tobacco-use.