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NM’s Teen Smoking Rate Drops To All-Time Low

Julia via Flickr
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New data released by the New Mexico Department of Health show the state’s rate of high schoolers smoking cigarettes is at an all-time low. And they’re using other tobacco products less often, too.

The state has had historically high rates of teen smoking. Ten years ago, a quarter of New Mexico high schoolers were using cigarettes. Now it’s down to 10 percent.

Sandra Adondakis leads the Chronic Disease Prevention Council of New Mexico. She credits part of the positive change to banning smoking in places like restaurants over the years.

"There's a really good correlation between having smoke-free public places and reducing youth smoking," she said.

The state’s rate has started to mirror the national average over the last few years. Right now it’s a few points higher.

Data via NM IBIS

The rates of local high schoolers using other tobacco products like e-cigarettes, chewing tobacco and hookah pipes have all gone down, too.

If you’re a smoker and want help quitting, you can call 1-800-QUITNOW or go to QuitNowNM.com.

 

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KUNM’s Public Health New Mexico project is funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the McCune Charitable Foundation, and the Con Alma Health Foundation.

May joined KUNM's Public Health New Mexico team in early 2018. That same year, she established the New Mexico chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and received a fellowship from the Association of Health Care Journalists. She join Colorado Public Radio in late 2019.
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