Tobacco-use survey offered
The use of tobacco is highest in the midwest and southern states and lowest in the western part of the U.S. Smoking is more prevalent among those with low incomes and lower education levels.
The Tuscarawas County Health Department wants to know people’s thoughts on tobacco use in the county and is asking residents to complete a brief survey to help them learn more. The annual survey is open through Sept. 4 and is available via a link at the health department’s Facebook page. Those who fill out the survey can enter a drawing to win a $50 gift card for gasoline. The survey is open to Tuscarawas County residents only.
“The annual community survey on tobacco is funded by a grant from the Ohio Department of Health,” said Katelyn Gorious, public health educator at the health department. “It helps us gauge area knowledge and beliefs about tobacco use in the area, which in turn enables us to identify where there may be gaps in that knowledge.”
The information is used to create educational pamphlets that are distributed throughout the year. The survey has been available since Aug. 1.
Information gained from the survey results ensures the agency is basing its efforts on data. “We could guess what people know and what they’re less clear on, but that wouldn’t really help anyone. We want to make sure the community is getting good information,” Gorious said.
Gorious said past surveys have produced information that has guided efforts to educate the community with facts.
“We learn what we need to be talking about with family and friends,” she said. “We might think we have a good grip on the direction the county is going, but then we get some surprises in answers we receive to the survey questions. A good response to the survey lets us know what to address in our educational efforts in the community.”
The anonymous survey does not require participants to disclose personal tobacco use and asks general questions regarding where public tobacco or e-cigarette use might be allowed or prohibited, how tobacco advertising might be targeted to at-risk groups and other similar questions. Survey responses are not linked to contact information provided to enter the drawing for the gas gift card.
According to the American Lung Association, the use of cigarettes in the United States has fallen by nearly 70% over the past 50 years. In more recent years, smoking among youth has dropped at a faster rate than adults. However, Gorious said the use of e-cigarettes for vaping has risen during that time. As such devices usually contain nicotine, the same highly addictive substance found in tobacco, the rise in their use, especially among the young, is alarming to health professionals and educators.
The use of tobacco is highest in the midwest and southern states and lowest in the western part of the U.S. Smoking is more prevalent among those with low incomes and lower education levels.
The Tuscarawas County Health Department promotes free smoking cessation programs via phone in the community. Those who would like help to stop using tobacco or e-cigarette products can call the free help line at 1-800-784-8669. The heath department is at 897 E. Iron Ave. in Dover and online at www.tchdnow.org. or at 330-343-5555.