Indiana's smoking rate reduced in past decade

INDIANAPOLIS | For a second consecutive year, the smoking rate for Hoosier adults has decreased, according to a study released Tuesday by the Indiana State Department of Health.

Indiana's smoking rate was reduced by 23 percent from 2001 to 2010, according to the 2010 Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System data. In 2001, the smoking rate in the state was 27.4 percent and dropped to 23.1 percent in 2009. The 2010 rate of 21.2 percent is the lowest since data collection started in 1984.

"The numbers are really good," said Brad Burk, the director of government relations for the Great Lakes Division of the American Cancer Society. "I don't think they're surprising per se. We do have an idea of what it takes to decrease smoking rates."

The data is from a state-based system of health surveys that collects information on health issues and behaviors.

The data showed 60 percent of Hoosier smokers attempted to quit for at least a day last year. Burk said the American Cancer Society believes three things are necessary to aggressively fight smoking. He said funding tobacco control, such as the Indiana Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Commission, and raising the tobacco tax are important ways to combat smoking. The tobacco tax was raised once in 2002 and again in 2007, raising the tax in Indiana to about $1 a pack. However, the national average is about $1.50, Burk said. The final way to combat smoking is passing more local tobacco laws or a statewide policy on smoking.

State Rep. Charlie Brown, D-Gary, authored legislation that passed in the House in January regarding a statewide policy, but it died in the Senate's Public Policy Committee after some members said a more comprehensive policy was needed. Others said state legislation shouldn't affect what's allowed in businesses. In June, Brown told The Times a tobacco increase is unlikely in 2012 since all members of the House are up for re-election.

He said Tuesday he plans to bring up legislation for a statewide smoking ban again next year.

"It may be that the numbers are decreasing, but Indiana still is one of the states with the most smokers," Brown said.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the national median for smoking in the U.S. was 17.3 percent last year.