Arizona Smoking Rate Drops Sharply
New information shows that the rate of smoking among adults in Arizona has dropped significantly.
Representatives from Arizona's Tobacco Revenue Use Spending and Tracking Commission (TRUST Commission), The Arizona Department of Health Services Bureau of Tobacco and Chronic Disease and Bureau of Environmental Health will be available to discuss this unprecedented drop in Arizona’s smoking prevalence at noon on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 at Tanner Community Development Corporation located at 700 E. Jefferson Street in Phoenix.
“The rate of smoking over the past year has dropped from 19.8 percent to 15.7 percent,” said Bill Pfeifer, TRUST Commission Chairman. “This is a historic drop in smoking prevalence for Arizona.”
The information, from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System 2008, shows the 4 percent drop in smoking statewide. That translates into approximately 170,000 fewer Arizonans smoking.
This significant decrease in smoking will move Arizona from ranking 26th in the nation for smoking prevalence to 7th.
Come hear from the TRUST Commission Chairman and representatives from the Arizona Department of Health Services about this important decrease in smoking.
Additional materials will be available to media at meeting and online by noon, May 27, 2009 at www.tobaccofreearizona.com.
