Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable disease, disability, and death in the United States. The use of tobacco harms nearly every organ in the body and causes cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung diseases, type 2 diabetes, and other chronic health conditions. The impacts of smoking extend past the smoker through secondhand smoke (CDC, 2020). Using e-cigarettes also causes health risks. E-cigarettes both contain and emit a number of potentially toxic substances (American Lung Association, 2020).

In Catawba County, chronic lung disease is the third leading cause of death. Chronic lung disease has led to 8,371 years of potential life lost by Catawba County residents. Mortality rates for lung cancer and chronic lower respiratory diseases for Catawba County are also higher than the North Carolina rates. In the 2019 Catawba County Community Health Opinion Survey, 15.5% of the respondents reported having smoked cigarettes or other nicotine products, including e-cigarettes, within the past twelve months; compared to 12.0% in 2015 (Catawba County Public Health, 2020).

If all Catawba County community members lived in communities that supported tobacco free and e-cigarette free lifestyles, Catawba County would potentially have:

• Lower rates of lung cancer deaths,

• Reduced hospital admissions related to lung cancer,

• Increases in life expectancy,

• Increases in community members receiving lung cancer screenings,

• Decreases in the number of community members using tobacco, and

• Increases in the number of tobacco free worksite policies.

• Connection to COVID-19 complications?

References:

American Lung Association. (2020). The Impact of E-Cigarettes on the Lung. Retrieved on November 30, 2020 from https://www.lung.org/quit-smoking/e-cigarettes-vaping/impact-of-e-cigarettes-on-lung.

Catawba County Public Health. (2020). 2019 Catawba County Community Health Assessment). Retrieved on November 30, 2020 from https://catawbacountync.gov/site/assets/files/2488/2019_catawba_county_cha.pdf.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Tobacco Use. Retrieved on November 30, 2020 from https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/publications/factsheets/tobacco.htm.

At the Chronic Disease Work Group meeting on January 24, 2022, work group members reviewed and updated their current strategies based on what was working well, what was not working well and/or could be removed or changed, and how these strategies impact health disparities in Catawba County. The work group’s action plan was updated to include the following strategies. Action steps related to the followling strategies are discussed and updated during monthly work group meetings. 

Strategies: Tobacco Policy

• Workplaces adopt or enhance comprehensive tobacco-free policies.

• Indoor and outdoor public places adopt or enhance tobacco policies. 

• Media education campaign on tobacco policies to educate the public and have workplaces become more involved in setting tobacco policies. 

Strategies: Lung Cancer Screening

• Screening education for the community and public about why lung cancer screening is a beneficial choice. 

• Promotion and education of lung cancer screenings for providers.