Extinguishing the tobacco epidemic in Illinois

ILLINOIS KEY FACTS In 2015, 32.8% of Illinois high school youth reported currently using any tobacco product, including e-cigarettes. Among Illinois high school youth, 10.1% reported currently smoking cigarettes. PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSE TO TOBACCO USE IN ILLINOIS Illinois is a state with strong tobacco control policies and programs. The state has a comprehensive smoke-free law, and recently Chicago increased the legal age of sale of tobacco products from 18 to 21 in an effort to protect young people from nicotine addiction and the harms of tobacco use. The state is also working to determine how to reach populations that have higher rates of tobacco use compared to other adults. In Illinois, smoking prevalence among persons with disabilities is approximately 25% higher compared to adults without a disability. Nearly 30% of callers to the Illinois quitline identify themselves as having a disability. The Illinois tobacco program responded by providing cultural competency training to quitline staff that includes information on how to successfully counsel persons with disabilities. The state has also developed appropriate media tools for deaf and hearing-impaired individuals, which includes a video guide in American Sign Language on the benefits of the state quitline. For more information on tobacco prevention and control, visit cdc.gov/tobacco.

Stephen B. Thacker CDC Library collection