Oklahoma health officials announced this week that fewer teenagers are smoking now compared with two years ago, and a growing number of teens have become “committed non-smokers.”
According to the bi-annual 2009 Oklahoma Youth Tobacco Survey, 20.2 percent of Oklahoma high school students were cigarette smokers, down from 23.4 percent in 2007. The survey also found that 6.5 percent of Oklahoma middle school students smoke, down from 7.5 percent in 2007.
There are an estimated 10,000 fewer Oklahoma teens smoking now than two years ago.
“This is impressive progress but we know there’s still a long way to go,” State Health Commissioner Terry Cline said. “All Oklahomans can play a role in preventing youth smoking. For example, we know that when more parents and other adults quit smoking, fewer children start.”
Janie Horton, Carter County tobacco use prevention coordinator, said the survey results were validating.
“We are going up against a multimillion-dollar industry that targets our young people relentlessly,” she said. “It’s a united effort.”
The survey also found an increase in the proportion of Oklahoma teens considered to be “committed non-smokers.” These are teens who have never smoked and report that they would definitely not smoke a cigarette during the next year, even if their best friend offered them one.
Among Oklahoma high school students, the number of “committed non-smokers” increased to 40.3 percent in 2009, up from 36.6 percent in 2007.
Among Oklahoma middle school students, the number rose to 64.1 percent in 2009, up from 59 percent in 2007.
There are an estimated 25,000 more “committed non-smokers” among Oklahoma youth now than two years ago.
“Locally, I think we can attribute it to our SWAT (Students Working Against Tobacco) coordinator Sally Mitchell and our adult partner Susie Dillard, who are doing a wonderful job in our schools,” Horton said. “There are SWAT members from every school in the county.”
Mitchell said she was pleased by the numbers.
“I think it is because it’s an eye-opener when children see the effects of smoking first-hand in their families,” she said.
The tobacco industry currently spends an estimated $213 million each year to promote smoking in Oklahoma.
“The combination of effective tobacco prevention programs and policies is making a difference,” said Tracey Strader, executive director of the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust. “Sadly, too many of Oklahoma’s kids remain vulnerable to the aggressive marketing practices of the tobacco industry. We must all continue to take action to protect our youth from a lifetime of addiction, disease and early death.”
Smoking is Oklahoma’s leading preventable cause of death, killing more Oklahomans than alcohol, auto accidents, AIDS, suicides, murders and illegal drugs combined.
Steve Biehn
221-6546
