Hawaii posts low rate
of women smokersDespite a No. 2 rank, state
officials contend more must
be done to reduce tobacco use
Hawaii ranks second in a national "report card" on state efforts to prevent smoking among women, but it's nothing to brag about, say anti-smoking advocates.
"Hawaii and the nation are still failing. The study shows they're not meeting national goals," said Deborah Zysman, new director of the Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawaii.
Women and Smoking: A National and State-by-State Report Card examined the nation's progress in reducing tobacco use among women based on health status and health policy indicators.
The report, released yesterday by the National Women's Law Center and , graded each state and the country on 11 benchmarks showing if they're on track to reduce smoking-related diseases by 2010. There were three grades -- fail, unsatisfactory and satisfactory.
Even in second place, Hawaii's grade is only a "satisfactory minus," said Julian Lipsher, Tobacco Prevention Program coordinator with the state Department of Health.
"No state was satisfactory," he said, "and it's a good point. What is an acceptable level of disease and death from a cause you know is preventable?"
Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States and the major cause of lung cancer, the leading cancer killer for women. It also greatly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, the leading overall killer of women.
Hawaii, ranking second to Utah in the study, was above average in these areas:
>> Relatively low number of current smokers: 16.16 percent compared with a national goal of 12 percent."While we are pleased with Hawaii's ranking in the study, we want to caution the public that these benchmarks and indicators are just guideposts along the way," said state Health Director Dr. Chiyome Fukino.>> Highest percentage of women who tried to quit during the past year.
>> Funding tobacco control programs at levels recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
>> Substantial tax on tobacco products ($1.30 now and going to $1.40 next year), shown to be effective in reducing smoking, especially among youth.
>> Improvement in availability and coverage for smoking cessation treatment.
The good news, said both Zysman and Lipsher, is that Hawaii is making progress according to the report card and other indicators. But it shouldn't be satisfied, they stressed.
Particularly alarming, Lipsher said, is that smoking rates are going up among 18- to 24-year-olds, the age group being targeted by the tobacco industry, while rates are going down in other groups.
Lipsher said Hawaii doesn't have a "quit line" people can call for support to stop smoking, which has been effective across the country.
But counties have good laws against tobacco exposure in restaurants and other places and the state excise tax is substantial, he said.
"The report doesn't suggest we declare victory and go home," Lipsher said. "We're headed in the right direction, spending tobacco settlement money appropriately, but there is more we can do to reduce the 1,100 resident deaths each year and close to $500 million annually in economic impact (from smoking-related diseases)."
