Tobacco Use

How Tobacco Use Impacts Health

Tobacco remains the top cause of preventable deaths and illnesses in the U.S., impacting reproductive health and leading to severe conditions like cancers and heart and lung diseases. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance in all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes. Early initiation often results in lifelong nicotine dependence; most adults who smoke start before age 18¹. Targeted efforts to prevent and limit youth tobacco use will help a generation avoid a lifetime of nicotine dependence and the many related health problems. Quitting tobacco benefits the health of people of any age, even if they have used tobacco for many years.

Adult Tobacco Use

Why this is important: Smoking tobacco harms health and is the leading cause of preventable disease in the U.S. Tobacco use is associated with multiple types of cancer, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes². Quitting smoking can profoundly benefit the health of smokers of any age, even among heavy and lifelong smokers. The Healthy People 2030 national target is 6.1%. 

Definition: Percent of adults who report smoking cigarettes every day or some days

Trend: The percent of adults who reported smoking everyday or some days in Whatcom County is decreasing since 2020 to 10.7% in 2022. However, this declining trend is not a significant change.

Geography: In 2022, the percent of adults in Whatcom County who reported smoking everyday or some days was similar to the percent of adults across Washington who report smoking this frequently.

Disparities: Among adults in Whatcom County who report smoking everyday or some days, a disparity exists for age of adult. Hover over the data in the subpopulation tabs to discover more.

Learn more:

• Getting Help to Quit Tobacco, WA State Department of Health.
• Health and Safety: Cigarette Smoking, WA State Department of Health.
• Why People Start Smoking and Why It’s Hard to Stop, American Cancer Society. 
• Benefits of Quitting Smoking, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Adult E-cigarette Use

Why this is important: E-cigarettes do not contain tobacco but do contain nicotine, the main addictive substance in cigarettes. E-cigarettes are not a safer alternative to smoking. Nicotine use raises heart rate, causes chronic diseases, and is harmful to pregnant women and their developing fetuses. Additives in e-cigarettes include other harmful substances, such as cancer-causing flavor chemicals, and have been linked to lung injuries, hospitalizations, and death³.

Definition: Percent of adults who using e-cigarettes in past or currently every day or some days

Trend: Since 2020, the percent of adults who report past or current e-cigarette use increased significantly to reach just over 10%. 

Geography: The percent of adults who report past or current e-cigarette use is significantly higher than the percent across Washington State.

Disparities:  Among adults in Whatcom County in 2022 who report past or current use of e-cigarette use, there is no evidence of disparities among subgroups.

Youth Tobacco Use

Why this is important: Youth cigarette use has severe negative health impacts and can increase the risk of developing chronic conditions such as respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular diseases, and even cancer at a young age⁴. The impacts of early tobacco use extend beyond physical health, impacting cognitive development, academic performance, and overall health and well-being. Because of the addictive nature of nicotine, preventing youth from smoking will help a generation avoid a lifetime of nicotine dependence and the many related health problems. The Healthy People 2030 national target is 3.4% (grades 6-12).

Definition: Percent of 10th graders who report smoking cigarettes in the past 30 days

Trend: The percent of 10th grade student who report smoking a cigarette one or more days in the last month in Whatcom County declined significantly between 2012 and 2018. The rate of 10th grade students who report smoking cigarettes was reported below 5% during the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2021. Caution should be used when interpreting 2021 survey data until further data is available.

Geography: The percent of 10th grade students in Whatcom County who report smoking a cigarette one or more days in the last month is similar to that across Washington State.

Disparities: In 2021, among 10th grade students in Whatcom County who report smoking one or more cigarettes in the last 30 days, no disparities were identified with available data. Hover over the data in the subpopulation tabs to discover more.

Youth E-Cigarette Use

Why this is important:  E-cigarettes do not contain tobacco but do include nicotine, the main addictive substance in cigarettes. E-cigarettes are the most widely used nicotine product among youth. E-cigarettes negatively affect brain development in children and adolescents and are strongly associated with cigarette and other tobacco use in adulthood. Because of the addictive nature of nicotine, preventing teens from using e-cigarettes will help a generation avoid a lifetime of nicotine dependence and the many related health problems⁵. The Healthy People 2030 national target is 10.5% (grades 6 -12).

Definition: Percent of 10th grade students who report E-cigarette use in the past 30 days

Trend: The percent of 10th grade students who report using an e-cigarette in the past 30 days in Whatcom County increased significantly between 2016-18. During the COVID-19 Pandemic the percent of students reporting e-cigarette fell to 10%. Caution should be used when interpreting 2021 survey data until further data is available.

Geography: The percent of 10the grade students who report e-cigarette use in Whatcom County is similar to that across Washington State.

Disparities: Among the 10th grade students in 2021 who report e-cigarette use in Whatcom County, disparities exist for gender identity and sexual orientation. Hover over the data in the subpopulation tabs to discover more.

Learn more:

• Whatcom Prevention Coalitions, Whatcom County Health and Community Services.
• Evidence on Health Impacts of Electronic-cigarettes and Vaping, WA State Department of Health, 2019.
• Why Youth Vape, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• Resources to Help Youth Reject or Quit Vaping, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Smoking During Pregnancy

Why this is important: Smoking during pregnancy is associated with numerous adverse outcomes, including low birth weight, preterm birth, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), contributing to infant mortality rates⁶. Reducing smoking among pregnant people not only keeps them and their babies healthier during pregnancy but also prevents long-term tobacco-related health issues. In addition, children of nonsmokers are less likely to start smoking than children whose parents smoke, so quitting smoking can reduce the chances of the child becoming a smoker⁷. The Healthy People 2030 national target is 95.7%.

Definition: Percent of live births where the birthing parent smoked during their pregnancy

Trend: Since 2016, the percent of live births where a birthing parent smoked during their pregnancy in Whatcom County declined significantly. The percent is still trending down in Whatcom County.

Geography: Over the last six years, the percent of live births to a birthing parent who smoked during their pregnancy in Whatcom County is similar to that across Washington State.

Disparities: Among those birthing parents who smoked during their pregnancy in Whatcom County during the period 2018-2022, evidence of disparities was observed for age group and racial group. Hover over the data in the subpopulation tabs to discover more.

Learn more:

• Getting Help to Quit Tobacco, WA State Department of Health.
• Smokefree Women: Pregnancy and Motherhood, US Department of Health and Human Services.
• Smoking, Pregnancy, and Babies, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 
• Smoking During Pregnancy, March of Dimes.

Additional Resources

• Washington Breathes 
• Tobacco and Cannabis Use Data, WA State Department of Health.
• Washington State Commercial Tobacco Prevention and Control Five Year Strategic Plan, WA State Department of Health, 2020.