Nicotine Patches

By Bill Scanlon, Rocky Mountain News
January 1, 2007

Despite an increase in cigarette sales this year, fewer Coloradans are smoking, a new study shows, and officials are giving some of the credit to the nicotine patches they're handing out.

The patches, combined with free coaching and 24-hour support through the Web- and phone-based QuitNet and QuitLine, have raised the success rate for those trying to quit, say officials with the State Tobacco Education and Prevention Partnership.

One in six Colorado adults was a smoker in 2005 - the most recent year for which figures are available - down from one in five in 2001, according to a survey of 12,257 Colorado adults conducted by the University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center.

Most of the state's decline was among women, who showed a steep drop between 2001 and 2005 - from 19.1 percent to 15.3 percent.

"That's 40,000 fewer Colorado women smoking," said Jodi Kopke, spokeswoman for State Tobacco Education and Prevention Partnership, a program administered by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Among Colorado men, 19.6 percent currently are smokers, a modest decline from 20.4 percent in 2001.

Overall, the new numbers mean Colorado ranks 14th lowest in the nation in the number of smokers.

"The decline has to be attributed to an increase in programs in the state to help smokers quit, including the QuitLine and the nicotine patch," said Kim Hills, executive director of the Colorado Tobacco Education and Prevention Alliance, a coalition of organizations that advocate against tobacco use.

Other factors that could be contributing to the reduction in smoking are a tobacco tax increase approved by voters in November 2005 and a smoking ban for bars and restaurants that went into effect this summer.

Smokers who try to quit cold turkey, with no help, are successful about 3 percent of the time, Kopke said. By comparison, QuitLine, which offers the assistance of a quit-smoking coach, boosted the success rate to about 25 percent, she said.

Tobacco-related health problems are costing Colorado governments and private businesses more than $1 billion a year, according to Colorado's chief medical officer Dr. Ned Calonge.

Tobacco is responsible for three- fourths of all heart disease cases, one in three cervical cancer cases and most lung cancer cases, says the National Cancer Institute.
Tobacco use is the country's leading cause of preventable death, accounting for 4,500 deaths in Colorado and 450,000 nationwide each year.

When the tobacco industry stopped targeting teens - at the threat of sanctions - and started targeting college-age students in ads, there was a nationwide surge in smoking among people in their 20s.

Nonetheless, in the last four years covered in the study, the smoking rate among people 18 to 24 declined from 31 percent to 25 percent, Kopke said.
Colorado stop-smoking programs

QUITNET

  • Year begun: 2002
  • People served: 32,000
  • Funding: Colorado's tobacco tax
  • Cost: $400,000 annually

How it works: The Web site has information about the harmful effects of tobacco. But participants say they most value the support they get from peers. Participants can instant message each other for support during weak moments.
Contact: www.co.quitnet.com

QUITLINE

  • Year begun: 2002
  • People served: 58,000
  • Funding: Colorado's tobacco tax
  • Cost: $3.75 million annually
  • How it works: Callers get a coach and a free four- to eight-week supply of nicotine patches.
  • Number of free patches: 48,200 packages (one package has a four-week supply)
  • Contact: 1-800-QUIT NOW

Colorado smokers

  • In 2001: 19.7%
  • In 2005: 17.4%

 

Smokers by age group

Age 2001 2005
 
18-24 30.3% 25%
25-44 20.9% 17.8%
45-64 17.8% 17.6%
65+ 9.2% 8%

Smokers by ethnicity

Ethnicity 2001 2005

White 19.1% 15.9%

Hispanic 21.8% 22.7%
Black 17.9% 18.5%

Sources:Colorado Department of PublicHealth and Environment, University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center

scanlon@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-442-8729