Tobacco Free Gallatin - COMMERCIAL TOBACCO USE&LOW SOCIOECONOMICPOPULATIONS SES Booklet Tobacco disproportionately affects populations with low socioeconomic status (SES). Overall, the prevalence of smoking in the United States has decreased significantly over the last few decades. However, the smoking prevalence among low-SES individuals has remained higher compared to those with greater income. People with lower incomes and lower levels of education are still smoking at a greater rate than individuals at higher income and education levels. In 2010, 28.9% of people living below the Federal Poverty Line (FPL) smoked compared to 18.3% of those above it. As a result, people at the lower levels of socioeconomic status are more likely to face a preventable and modifiable risk of mortality and morbidity causes by commercial tobacco use. In addition to bearing increased health-related effects, people with lower incomes suffer from greater economic consequences of tobacco use. Increased tobacco use worsens their limited economic ability to meet day-to-day needs. Higher rates of tobacco use in low-income families mean a greater percentage of family income being spent on tobacco. This creates a burden on the already scarce financial resources of low-income families. TOBACCO MARKETING TO THE HOMELESS It’s estimated that between 70% and 99% of homeless adults smoke. There are a number of factors believed to contribute to the high smoking rates of smoking in this population including mental illness, low income, high stress levels, less education, and physical disabilities. This combination of characteristics and behavior make the homeless population an attractive market for tobacco companies.

Gallatin County
Tobacco Use Prevention Program

COMMERCIAL TOBACCO USE

LOW SOCIOECONOMIC

POPULATIONS

Tobacco disproportionately affects populations with low socioeconomic status (SES). Overall, the prevalence of smoking in the United States has decreased significantly over the last few decades. However, the smoking prevalence among low-SES individuals has remained higher compared to those with greater income.

People with lower incomes and lower levels of education are still smoking at a greater rate than individuals at higher income and education levels.

In 2010, 28.9% of people living below the Federal Poverty Line (FPL) smoked compared to 18.3% of those above it.

As a result, people at the lower levels of socioeconomic status are more likely to face a preventable and modifiable risk of mortality and morbidity causes by commercial tobacco use.

In addition to bearing increased health-related effects, people with lower incomes suffer from greater economic consequences of tobacco use.

Increased tobacco use worsens their limited economic ability to meet day-to-day needs. Higher rates of tobacco use in low-income families mean a greater percentage of family income being spent on tobacco. This creates a burden on the already scarce financial resources of low-income families.

TOBACCO MARKETING TO THE HOMELESS

It’s estimated that between 70% and 99% of homeless adults smoke. There are a number of factors believed to contribute to the high smoking rates of smoking in this population including mental illness, low income, high stress levels, less education, and physical disabilities.

This combination of characteristics and behavior make the homeless population an attractive market for tobacco companies.

Gallatin County Tobacco Use Prevention Program

404 West Main

Bozeman, Montana 59715