New numbers show that Wyoming teenagers are smoking less. New Kids Count Data shows that in 1995 nearly 40-percent of high school students smoked a cigarette once in the last month. That number dropped to 22 percent in 2011. State Tobacco Prevention Coordinator Joe D’Eufemia said Wyoming increased its spending in preventive efforts in the late 1990’s, but he said two other actions may have had a greater impact.
“In the early 2000’s we did have an increase in the tobacco excise tax and that has shown to be very effective or one of the most effective methods in decreasing youth initiation.”
When it comes to raising the price for tobacco, D’Eufemia said that piece was key.
“In the early 2000’s we did have an increase in the tobacco excise tax and that has shown to be very effective or one of the most effective methods in decreasing youth initiation.”
While there has been a major decrease in smoking and overall tobacco use, he said that Wyoming’s teen’s still use tobacco more than the national average. D’Eufemia said that health officials are considering other strategies to try to address that.