Sales of smokeless tobacco products have risen dramatically in California over the last decade, according to a report released December 13 by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH).
Nearly $211 million in noncigarette tobacco and nicotine products were sold in California in 2011, up from $77 million in 2001, the report noted. In addition, smokeless tobacco use among high school students grew to 3.9% of students in 2010, up from 3.1% in 2004.
The report includes new data on illegal sales to minors, the disproportionate number of tobacco retailers and advertising in minority and low-income neighborhoods, the effect of tobacco advertising in retail stores, and other tobacco-use trends.
"The illegal sale of tobacco to minors is a serious issue, and we are committed to working with retailers and inform the public in order to stop these practices," said CDPH director and state health officer Ron Chapman, MD, MPH, in a press release. "The tobacco industry's advertising tactics towards a younger audience is disturbing and shameful. It is startling that the tobacco industry spends nearly $1 million every hour to market their products nationwide."
More than 34,000 deaths from tobacco-related illnesses occur every year, and the cost of adult healthcare related to smoking in California is projected to be $6.5 billion this year, Dr. Chapman noted.
Here are some other highlights of the report:
- Since the inception of the Tobacco Control Program, the annual number of cigarette packs sold in California dropped by more than 1.5 billion per year, from 2.5 billion packs in 1998 to 972,000 packs in 2011.
- In 2011, young adults ages 18 to 24 had the highest smoking prevalence among any age group in California.
- The popularity, promotion, and availability of smokeless tobacco have greatly increased; examples include snus, cigarillos, and dissolvable and flavored "orbs" and "sticks" that are currently being test-marketed in other states.
