Celebrating continued decline in Oklahoma smoking prevalence

Posted on: 10/13/23

OHA would like to thank hospital partners for their contributions to helping reduce the rate of tobacco use in Oklahoma. According to the most recent data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) Survey, Oklahoma has seen a tremendous decline in the percentage of adults who smoke. In 2009, 25.5% of Oklahoma adults reported they were current smokers and in 2022 that number has reduced to 15.6%.

The OHA’s Clinical Tobacco Treatment (CTT) initiative, a grant funded program of the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust, helps Oklahoma hospitals and affiliated clinics create sustainable tobacco treatment systems change to assist patients, employees and visitors quit tobacco for good. Since the inception of this program in 2009, 79 hospitals and 500 clinics have implemented clinical tobacco treatment support for patients and employees. OHA partners have referred over 58,000 patients to the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline. These referrals have resulted in almost $14 million in health care cost savings and over 27,000 lives saved due to enhanced quit rates. 

“We are so grateful for our hospital partners who are working hard to reduce Oklahoma’s leading cause of preventable death, tobacco use and related disease. In doing so, they are working towards the triple aim of healthcare quality by improving the patient experience, improving population health outcomes, and reducing overall healthcare cost,” said Eric Finley, OHA’s Health Improvement Initiatives manager. 

Despite the reductions of tobacco use in Oklahoma, it continues to impose a substantial health and financial burden. Average annual smoking-attributable healthcare expenditures are approximately $240 billion. Hospitals and healthcare systems should continue to be committed to developing a successful tobacco-free culture by implementing strategies that are cost effective and evidence-based throughout all health services to achieve a permanent system of care. This will result in sustained health improvement of employees and patients. If you are interested in participating in Clinical Tobacco Treatment or would like to learn more, please email the Health Improvement Initiatives team at [email protected].