Report card on tobacco use in Mississippi, 2009

Mississippians are failing in their health status particularly as it relates to tobacco use. According to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2008, 22.7% of Mississippi adults are current smokers compared to 18.4% of U.S. adults. This gives Mississippi a ranking of seventh among the states and the District of Columbia. Considering that smoking is the leading cause of preventable death, change must occur in our state. Resources necessary to combat the problem of tobacco use in Mississippi are available, but it is important that tobacco users are aware of their availability and how to access those resources. Physicians can positively impact the tobacco use statistics by counseling their tobacco dependent patients on the need for cessation and what counseling and pharmacotherapy resources are available to help the patient break his or her addiction.