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• Iowa Department of Public Health: Cigarette sales drop 52 percent, but teens still at risk  

Iowans are smoking less, though young people continue to be at risk for starting. That's according to a report released today by the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH).

Conducted by the University of Northern Iowa's Center for Behavioral Research, the 2009 Tobacco Control Progress Report shows that Iowa and the state health department have made a number of advances in reducing smoking since 2000. Most recently, the report finds there has been a dramatic decrease in cigarette consumption in Iowa. Data from the Iowa Department of Revenue show that cigarette sales in Iowa remained steady from 2000 to 2006. Since that time, however, per capita consumption of cigarettes has plummeted from 112 to 54 in 2009.

"The fact that Iowans are smoking half as many cigarettes now is clearly attributable to the $1 cigarette excise tax in 2007 and the 2008 Smokefree Air Act," said Cathy Callaway, chair of the Iowa Tobacco Use Prevention & Control Commission. "The importance of policies like these in improving health and saving lives cannot be underestimated." . . .

Data from more than 60 sources were reviewed in producing the Iowa 2009 Tobacco Progress Report. For more information, visit http://www.idph.state.ia.us/tobacco and look under "Tobacco Program Evaluations and Progress Reports."

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