The percentage of adult North Dakotans smoking is following a national trend: North Dakota’s smoking rate decreased from 18.6 percent in 2009 to 17.4 percent in 2010. This drop coincides with the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) report in its Septem-ber issue of Vital Signs, which examined the changes in smoking rates and patterns of smoking during 2005-2010. The report indicates that the nationwide percentage of American adults who smoke decreased from 20.9 percent in 2005 to 19.3 percent in 2010. North Dakota’s decline of adult smokers can be attributed to the state’s comprehen-sive tobacco prevention program, which was started in 2009, according to Jeanne Prom, Executive Director of the North Dakota Center for Tobacco Prevention and Control Policy. “States like North Dakota that have a fully funded comprehensive to-bacco prevention program have the greatest success in reducing tobacco use. By reducing tobacco use we save lives and save money for all North Dakotans.” Prom stated that reducing tobacco use is a winnable battle when science-based CDC Best Practices are used to build a comprehensive prevention program that includes smoke-free laws, cigarette price increases, access to cessation services and hard-hitting media campaigns. The CDC report also indicates that tobacco use remains the leading cause of prevent-able death in the United States. In addition to the loss of human life, smoking costs about $193 billion annually in direct healthcare expenses and lost productivity. In North Dakota, tobacco use costs families over $247 million each year in health care and imposes a tax burden of $564 for each household. The greatest loss is not finan-cial but the loss of life - 890 North Dakotans die prematurely each year due to smok-ing related diseases, Prom noted. Other key points from CDC’s Vital Signs are: • In 2010, nearly one in five U.S. adults (45.3 million) were current smokers. • Although some people who smoke every day are consuming fewer cigarettes, even occasional smoking causes harm, and the best option for any smoker is to quit com-pletely. • Tobacco control programs that have been proven to reduce smoking also have been proven to reduce the health care costs directly related to tobacco use. Source: www.breathend.com

North Dakota’s rate of adult smokers drops from 2009 to 2010

ND Accomplishments

200% increase in ND cities with

enacted comprehensive smoke-

free ordinances (from 2 to 6).

105% increase in number of

North Dakotans living in cities

with comprehensive smoke-

free ordinances.

59.2 % North Dakotans now

strongly support a statewide

comprehensive smoke-free law

(up from 47.2% in 2008).

Fall 2011

Volume 11

Nelson-Griggs District Health Unit Newsletter

“States like North

Dakota that have a

fully funded compre-

hensive tobacco pre-

vention program have

the greatest success in

reducing tobacco use.

By reducing tobacco

use we save lives and

save money for all

North Dakotans.”

Jeanne Prom, Executive

Director or the North Da-

kota Center for Tobacco

Prevention & Control

On July 1, Devils Lake joined a

growing number of cities in North

Dakota, including Bismarck,

Fargo, Grand Forks, Napoleon,

Pembina and West Fargo in be-

coming smoke free. The ordi-

nance will protect workers and

customers from exposure to sec-

ondhand smoke in restaurants,

bars and truck stops throughout

the city.

An advisory vote last November

showed that the majority of resi-

dents (58 percent) were in favor

of smoke free bars and work-

places. In December, the city

commission approved the ordi-

nance. Center for Tobacco Pre-

vention Director Jeanne Prom

said it is important to protect all

workers from secondhand smoke.

“People who work in a second-

hand smoke environment are 50

percent more likely than the gen-

eral population to develop lung

cancer by being exposed to sec-

ondhand smoke on the job,” said

Prom.

Prom also mentioned that feed-

back from North Dakota’s other

smoke free communities has

been positive and Devils Lake will

find the same positive community

impact.

For more information about sec-

ondhand smoke visit

www.BreatheND.com.

certain cancers.

The Grand Forks ordinance went

into effect in August and removed

the exemptions from the current

ND Clean Air law, such as bars

and truck stops, making all work-

places smoke free.

The coalition will next study smok-

ing related to heart health.

For a full report of the study, go

to: www.tobaccobytes.com

In August, the Grand Forks To-

bacco Free Coalition released the

results of an indoor air quality

study completed by Roswell Park

Cancer Institute.

The study show that air samples

taken at businesses before and

after the law showed a 92% re-

duction in fine particle pollution.

The fine particles in second hand

smoke has been shown to cause

lung and heart disease as well as

Grand Forks Air is Cleaner

Smoke Free Devils Lake

Page 2 Nelson-Griggs District Health Unit

BreatheND is the official website and logo of the Center for Tobacco Prevention and Control Policy, a division of the Tobacco

Prevention and Control Executive Committee. In 2008, North Dakota voters passed a statewide Initiated Measure 3 that

created the Tobacco Prevention and Control Executive Committee and requires a portion of the money North Dakota re-

ceives for tobacco settlement dollars to be used for tobacco prevention and control programs. The Tobacco Prevention and

Control Executive Committee is charged with implementing North Dakota’s comprehensive state tobacco prevention plan:

Saving Lives- Saving Money.

November 17 marks the American Cancer Society’s 36th annual Great American Smokeout. On this day, smokers are encouraged to quit tobacco use and ultimately take an important step toward a healthier life that can lead to reducing their cancer risk. The best cure for addiction is prevention.

Smoking is responsible for 90 percent of deaths from lung cancer and 30 percent of all cancer deaths, according to the North Dakota Center for Tobacco Prevention and Control Policy (the Center), which educates North Dakotans on the dangers of tobacco use and secondhand smoke. Tobacco is also the leading cause of preventable deaths in North Dakota.

North Dakota has a quitline program readily available for those wanting to quit, but we must focus on prevention if we are serious about reducing the smoking rate. The key to prevention is education.

When people are educated on the harms of tobacco use and choose to either quit using tobacco or never start, a pattern of social norms begins to take shape that makes it less socially acceptable to use tobacco. Would-be smokers are less likely to start smoking when cities implement smoke-free policies in all workplaces and outdoor recreation areas.

According to the Center, nearly 90 percent of adult smokers begin smoking while in their teens, or earlier, and two-thirds become regular, daily smokers before they reach the age of 19. But when kids are not exposed to the con-cept of smoking, they are less likely to become smokers themselves.

The fight against tobacco is a winnable battle. Science and experience have identified proven, cost-effective strate-gies that prevent kids from using tobacco, help tobacco users quit, and protect everyone from secondhand smoke. To learn more go to www.breathend.com.

Great American Smokeout is November 17th

North Dakota’s current cigarette tax is at 44 cents per pack (46th among all states). The national average is $1.46 per

pack. ND has not raised its taxes since 1993. Raising tobacco taxes is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce

smoking, especially among youth and to encourage smokers to quit.

Benefits From A $2 Per Pack Cigarette Tax Increase

ND’s Cigarette Excised Tax

Rates Compared with

Surrounding States.

Montana $1.70

Minnesota $1.586

South Dakota $1.53

North Dakota $0.44

Page 3 Volume 11

Projected Public Health Benefits From a Cigarette Tax Rate Increase

Percent decrease in youth smoking: 25.70%

Kids in ND kept from becoming addicted adult smokers: 7,900

Current adult smokers in the state who would quit: 5,300

Smoking-affected births avoided over next 5 years: 1,800

ND residents saved from premature smoking-caused death: 3,900

5-year health savings from fewer smoking-affected preg-

nancies & births: $3.1 million

5-year health savings from fewer smoking-caused heart

attacks & strokes: $2.4 million

Long-term health savings in the state from adult & youth

smoking declines: $188.6 million

Source: Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids www.tobaccofreekids.org

Influenza vaccine still available It’s not too late to get vaccinated against influenza. The Center for Disease Control recommends everyone 6 months and

older get vaccinated. Some children need 2 doses this year if they were not vaccinated last year and under age 9. Let-

ters will be mailed to parents. Contact Nelson-Griggs District Health Unit for more information at 701.322.5624.

116 Main Street PO Box 365 McVille, ND 58254 Phone 701.322.5624 Fax 701.322.5111

Business Name

Phone: 555-555-5555 Fax: 555-555-5555 E-mail: someone@example.com

Nelson-Griggs District Health Unit

116 Main Street PO Box 365 McVille, ND 58254 Phone 701.322.5624 Fax 701.322.5111 E-mail: jferry@nd.gov or dnmiller@nd.gov

Pictures from the 14th annual Progressive

Agriculture Safety Day® held in Stump

Lake Park. Participants came from com-

munities in Nelson and Griggs Counties.