Background Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States, annually causing more than 480,000 deaths. In Wyoming, smoking leads to approximately 800 deaths from smoking-related illnesses each year and nearly $258 million in annual healthcare costs (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2014a). In addition, scientists have known since the […]
Background Since the 1950s, scientists have been collecting evidence about the harmful effects of smoking. In 1964, the U.S. Surgeon General’s office issued a landmark report, Smoking and Health: Report of the Advisory Committee to the Surgeon General, which stated that a link between smoking and certain cancers exists (U.S. Department of Health, Education, and […]
Context for Tobacco Prevention in Wyoming There is no safe level of exposure to tobacco smoke. Each year, an estimated 800 Wyoming adults die prematurely from smoking-attributable illnesses such as heart disease, lung diseases, and cancers (primarily of the respiratory system; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2014a). In 2010, tobacco-related healthcare cost Wyoming […]
The Wyoming Adult Tobacco Survey (ATS) is a key component in the evaluation of Wyoming’s Tobacco Prevention and Control Program (TPCP). Under contract to the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH), the Wyoming Survey & Analysis Center (WYSAC) at the University of Wyoming called adults across the state (via cell phone and landline) to ask about their use of and attitudes about tobacco products and policies.
Tobacco use is a preventable cause of chronic diseases like heart disease, cancers, respiratory diseases, and high blood pressure in the United States (USDHHS, 2014). Chronic diseases are leading causes of death and sickness in the United States and Wyoming. In 2016, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and chronic lower respiratory diseases were the first, second, and fourth leading causes of death in Wyoming, respectively (CDC, National Center for Health Statistics, 2017).
Chronic disease is a general term that refers to illnesses that progress slowly and last a long time (World Health Organization [WHO], 2014), such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Chronic diseases are the leading causes of death and sickness in the United States and Wyoming (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics [CDC, NCDHS], 2017). “Smoking remains the leading preventable cause of premature disease and death in the United States” (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [USDHHS], 2014, p. iii).
The Wyoming Tobacco Prevention and Control Program (TPCP) works to reduce tobacco use in Wyoming by using a comprehensive, multi-strategy approach. The TPCP aligns its strategies around four goal areas that it shares with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
The Wyoming Survey & Analysis Center (WYSAC), under contract to the Wyoming Department of Health, Public Health Division, conducted a survey of young adults aged 18 to 25. The survey measured attitudes and behaviors of young adults in Wyoming related to tobacco use. Key findings from the survey include the following:
The Impact of Tobacco in Wyoming: 2016 Annual Summary provides data on the prevalence of tobacco use and data associated with the four goals of the Wyoming Tobacco Prevention and Control Program:
Reduce youth initiation
Reduce exposure to secondhand smoke
Promote tobacco cessation
Minimize disparities in the burden of tobacco use.
The Impact of Tobacco in Wyoming: 2015 Annual Summary provides data on the prevalence of tobacco use and data associated with the four goals of the Wyoming Tobacco Prevention and Control Program:
Reduce youth initiation
Reduce exposure to secondhand smoke
Promote tobacco cessation
Minimize disparities in the burden of tobacco use.