Source: Fairwarning.org

By: Patrick Corcoran

Higher cigarette taxes and indoor smoking bans have significantly reduced smoking rates in the U.S., but tobacco companies are responding to flagging sales by aggressively marketing smokeless tobacco.

A new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows wide variations in the percentage of adults who smoke in different states, ranging from lows of 9.8 percent in Utah and 12.9 percent in California, to 25.6 percent in Kentucky and West Virginia.

An analysis of the data by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, an anti-smoking group, shows that states with the lowest smoking rates also had the highest cigarette taxes and bans on lighting up indoors, while states with the lowest taxes and least restrictions had the highest rates of smoking.

For example, in the 11 states with the fewest smokers, percentage-wise, cigarette taxes average $2.19 per pack, versus 62 cents per pack in the 10 states with the highest smoking rates.

But in response to restrictions on indoor smoking, tobacco companies have been pushing use of smokeless tobacco. For example,  to promote its Marlboro Snus smokeless tobacco, Philip Morris uses the slogan: “So next time smoking isn’t an option, just reach for your Snus.”

Rival R.J. Reynolds promotes its Camel Snus with a similar message: “Pleasure for wherever.”

Smokeless tobacco use varied widely as well, with California recording the lowest rate (1.3 percent) and Wyoming the highest (9.1 percent) of adult users.

The CDC highlighted the need to attack smoking and other tobacco use in tandem. “Use of smokeless tobacco may keep some people from quitting tobacco altogether,” said CDC Director Tom Frieden. “We need to intensify our anti-tobacco efforts to help people quit using all forms of tobacco.”