More Georgians attempt to quit tobacco

Released on = January 24, 2005, 11:37 am

Press Release Author = Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR)

Industry = Healthcare

Press Release Summary = Nov. 17, 2004 -- The Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) and the Georgia Cancer Coalition (GCC) announce the release of the 2004 Georgia Tobacco Surveillance Report. The report shows that there has been a
significant increase in the percentage of smokers who are trying to quit, while the number of Georgians who use tobacco has not increased.

Press Release Body = ATLANTA (GA) – The Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) and the Georgia Cancer Coalition (GCC) announce the release of the 2004 Georgia Tobacco Surveillance Report. The report shows that there has been a significant increase in the percentage of smokers who are trying to quit, while the number of Georgians who use tobacco has not increased.

The surveillance report provides statistics on the prevalence of smoking among Georgia adults and youth, details services provided by the Georgia Tobacco Quit Line (1-877-270-STOP/Spanish speakers call 1-877-2NO-FUME) and other tobacco cessation
resources and highlights the burden of smoking-related diseases and associated healthcare costs.

The report shows that approximately 24 percent of adult Georgians smoke. The report also revealed that 9 percent of state middle school students and 24 percent of high school students smoke some form of cigarettes.

“This report helps confirm what we already know, that tobacco cessation efforts in Georgia are working,” said Kathleen E. Toomey, M.D., M.P.H., director, DHR Division of Public Health. “Efforts such as the Georgia Tobacco Quit Line are helping Georgians kick the habit. We hope to see this trend continue.”

The Georgia Tobacco Quit Line is a toll-free hotline that offers free counseling, screening and support to Georgians who want to quit. Callers speak with trained counselors who develop an individualized quit plan specific to the callers’ needs and readiness to quit. Since the Quit Line began, more than 35,000 Georgia tobacco users have been helped. The report shows that 76 percent of callers to the Quit Line made at least one attempt to quit smoking and 21 percent had not used tobacco for 30 days or more.

Other highlights in the report include the heavy involvement of community efforts to keep tobacco use down. For example, 98 percent of public middle schools in Georgia had policies prohibiting tobacco use. In business communities, 90 percent of Georgia worksites had a formal policy prohibiting smoking on the job, and 38 percent of county governments and 14 percent of city governments in Georgia have ordinances related to tobacco use.

Bill Todd, President, Georgia Cancer Coalition (Coalition) said “Tobacco takes a heavy toll on Georgia, on both residents and the economy. Georgia spends nearly $1.8 billion annually for direct adult medical costs related to tobacco use. Infant healthcare costs average $9 million each year. The Georgia Tobacco Quit Line is one
effective tool we have to stem the tide of this terrible trend.”

More than 11,000 adult Georgians die every year from tobacco-related illnesses. Of those 11,000 deaths, 4,200 die from cancer, 4,200 die from cardiovascular disease and 2,600 die from respiratory disease. Information from this report will help DHR
maintain funding for public health smoking cessation programs statewide and to continue community outreach to reduce tobacco use among all Georgians, said Dr. Toomey.

For more information on DHR’s tobacco prevention programs or the Georgia Tobacco Quit Line, visit http://health.state.ga.us or call 1-877-270-STOP/Spanish speakers
call 1-877-2NO-FUME.

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Web Site = http://health.state.ga.us

Contact Details = For information, contact:
Richard Quarterone
DHR, Division of Public Health
404/463-4627
rquartarone@dhr.state.ga.us