Growing number of adults in Arizona have quit smoking in past 5 years
Sep 28, 2016, 2:25 PM
PHOENIX — Smoking is becoming less popular with Arizona adults.
New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show 14 percent of Arizona adults smoke. That’s down from 19.3 percent in 2011.
The Arizona Department of Health Services said that translated to more than 200,000 smokers who have quit in the past five years.
“I am excited to see this significant decrease in the number of people smoking in our state,” said Dr. Cara Christ, department director.
“Smoking causes several negative health effects such as heart disease, cancer, respiratory disease, and stroke.”
The CDC said cigarette smoking harms nearly every organ of the body.
Christ said side effects of smoking, secondhand smoke included, were also harmful, especially to children. Quitting now, Christ said, will add quality to one’s life – no matter how long the person has smoked.
“As the saying goes, when you quit tobacco, you put more years in your life and more life in your years,” she said.
To help people quit, the department operates the Arizona Smokers’ Helpline.
The ASHLine offers free individual counseling (and free nicotine-replacement therapy, such as patches and gum) to people who want to quit any tobacco product.