Incidence of Smoking Highest Among Individuals with Disabilities

A recent study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that smoking rates are highest among individuals with disabilities.

Data for the study were collected by utilizing the 2004 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System is an ongoing survey, which is conducted by randomly dialed telephone numbers of residents who are over the age of 18 and who are not institutionalized. Data were used from all 50 states as well as the District of Columbia and the two United States territories data are readily available for, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico for the year 2004.

The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System collects data on health status, preventive health behaviors, mental health risk behaviors, and demographics. Disability was determined by two questions in the survey: "Do you now have any health problems that require you to use special equipment, such as a cane, a wheelchair, a special bed, or a special telephone?" and, "Are you limited in any way in any activities because of physical, mental, or emotional problems?" Participants who responded "yes" to either of these questions were classified as having a disability.

The study found that prevalence of smoking among individuals with disabilities is nearly 50% higher than individuals without disabilities. More specifically, whereas 19.8% of individuals without disabilities smoke, 29.9% of individuals who have disabilities smoke, according to the study results. Puerto Rico had the lowest incidence of smoking among individuals with disabilities at 16.5% while Delaware had the highest incidence of smoking among disabled individuals at 39.4 percent.

The results of the study also indicate that 70% of disabled individuals who smoke and who had seen their doctor during the past year had been encouraged to quit smoking; however, over 40% of those who had been encourage by their doctors to quit smoking had not been informed about the treatment options for quitting.