A study released today by the Iowa Department of Public Health shows that Iowans are smoking 52% less, but teens are still at risk for starting.

The 2009 Tobacco Control Progress Report, conducted by the University of Northern Iowa’s Center for Behavioral Research, showed that tobacco consumption in Iowa has decreased since 2000. While cigarette sales have held steady, per capita consumption of cigarettes has decreased from 112 to 54 in 2009. The new report is one year after the Smokefree Air Act that banned smoking in public places was approved in 2008.

The use of cigarettes by high school students, 19.9 percent in 2008, was roughly the same level it was in 2004, 19.5 percent. Among middle school students, use was down only slightly from 3.6 percent in 2006 to 2.8 percent in 2008.

For more information, go to

www.idph.state.ia.us/tobacco under the heading “Tobacco Program Evaluations and Progress Reports.”