The New Mexico Department of Health announced Oct. 16 that the adult smoking rate for New Mexico has dropped to 19.3 percent, making it the lowest rate of adult smokers since 2001, when the rate was 23.8 percent of the adult population. According to a recent Department of Health survey, in 2001, there were an estimated 352,600 smokers, and this year there are 66,600 fewer smokers.

“It’s a tremendous accomplishment for anyone to quit smoking, and this significant drop in the number of New Mexicans who smoke means that more people will have the chance to live longer and healthier lives,” said Health Secretary Alfredo Vigil, M.D. “Quitting smoking can have a very positive impact on a person’s overall health. I encourage anyone who is interested in quitting to use all the resources at their disposal to help with their success.” 

In addition to the health benefits associated with quitting smoking, people who quit will experience a reduction in their overall medical costs. According to Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, a person who smokes will pay about $9,500 more for medical costs over his or her lifetime than a non-smoker.

The Department provides help to anyone in New Mexico who wants to quit tobacco through 1-800-QUIT NOW, New Mexico’s free tobacco help line. The telephone-based cessation service provides nicotine patches or gum, as appropriate, to registered participants along with a free quit plan and free sessions with a trained coach. Help line services are accessible from 6 a.m.-10 p.m., seven days a week. Callers can speak to someone in Spanish or English, with translation available for other languages.

A 2007 survey from the U.S. Census Bureau reported that the average number of cigarettes smoked by New Mexico smokers was approximately 11 per day, which is lower that the national average of approximately 15 cigarettes per day. The more cigarettes a smoker consumes each day, the more likely he or she is to be dependent on nicotine and the less likely he or she is to quit.

The Department of Health’s Tobacco Use Prevention and Control Program is a comprehensive, evidence-based public health program aimed at reducing the health and economic burden caused by tobacco. The program was established with Master Settlement Agreement funds resulting from a legal judgment against the tobacco industry.

To read the report, go online to http://nmtupac.com/index.php?p=reports.