 |
|
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Dec. 28, 2006 |
CONTACT Jodi Kopke |
Fewer Smokers in ColoradoDENVER – In recent years, Colorado has seen a significant decline in the number of women who smoke, but the male smoking rate has remained unchanged. According to a recently completed study, smoking among women fell from 19.1 percent in 2001 to 15.3 percent in 2005, which is 40,000 fewer female smokers in Colorado. Among men, the smoking rate in 2005 was 19.6 percent, which was not statistically different from the 2001 rate of 20.4 percent. The University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center conducted this telephone-based study, the Colorado Tobacco Attitudes and Behaviors Survey, of 12,257 randomly selected Colorado adults. The substantial decline in the number of female smokers lowered Colorado's overall adult smoking rate to 17.3 percent in 2005, from 20 percent in 2001. “This overall decline in smoking is very significant news for Colorado, for obvious health and economic reasons,” said Karen DeLeeuw, director of the State Tobacco Education and Prevention Partnership. The agency, within the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, funded the study. “By quitting smoking, people experience tremendous health benefits, such as fewer illnesses and a longer life expectancy. In addition, the large economic toll of smoking-related illnesses on the health care system decreases, saving taxpayer money.” The study also found that in 2005, 62.4 percent of Colorado adults had never smoked, compared to 56 percent in 2001. Of the current smokers, two thirds (65.7 percent) tried to quit in 2005, slightly more than the number who tried to quit in 2001, 61.4 percent. “Many smokers are trying to quit, and the state offers a number of free services to help them,” said Deleeuw. “If smokers try to quit cold turkey, they have only a 3 percent chance of success. But by utilizing the Colorado QuitLine, a free telephone service that offers eight free weeks of the patch and personalized ‘quit plans’ supported and guided by trained coaches, success rates increase to more than 40 percent. With the New Year right around the corner, the coaches at the QuitLine are standing by to talk with smokers who are ready to quit.” The Colorado Quitline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW, (784-8669), is operated by National Jewish Medical and Research Center under contract to the State Tobacco Education and Prevention Partnership. It is a free, telephone coaching service available to both English- and Spanish-speaking Colorado residents. The Quitline coaches are available Mondays through Thursdays, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Fridays, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Saturdays and Sundays, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The service also is available for the deaf and hard-of-hearing at TTY 800-659-2656. ---30--- |
|