Residents of San Diego County find tobacco use overwhelmingly harmful and support new restrictions on its use, but too many smokers are trapped in addiction, according to a new poll conducted by Competitive Edge Research & Communication, and commissioned by KeepComingBack.com (KCB), an online community resource for addicts and their friends and family.

Tobacco use is widespread in San Diego, as 31% of the county population stated they have used or currently use some type of tobacco product on a regular basis. Public health advocates should be concerned that 2/3rds of tobacco users told interviewers that they began smoking illegally when they were minors, which suggests that more must be done to improve early-age tobacco cessation efforts. An additional 24% of respondents began smoking when they were between the ages of 18 and 20, and 10% at 21 years or older. Today, approximately 1 in 10 adult San Diegans (9%) currently use tobacco, which according to the most figures from the U.S. Census sums up to 217,609 residents. The overwhelming majority of these users have had profound difficulties with kicking the habit; the KCB poll found that 75% of those who are using tobacco products today have tried to quit but were unsuccessful.

An analysis of the polls results finds that San Diego residents understand the health risks of smoking. The KCB survey, which was released in October, found that of the 520 adult respondents, 56% described tobacco use as “extremely harmful.” Women were found to be more aware of the dangers of smoking – 63% found tobacco use to be extremely harmful, compared to only 48% of men. Most alarmingly, smokers and chewers are well aware of the harm created by their tobacco habits – a combined 60% described it as either very harmful or extremely harmful, underscoring the powerfully addictive nature of the substance.

By Vince Vasquez
Copyright 2009 KeepComingBack.com

Second-hand smoke is another serious health concern for San Diegans, but not at the same intensity of direct smoking. Only 38% of respondents believe second-hand smoke is extremely harmful. However, 15% of current tobacco users believe exposure to second-hand smoke is extremely hazardous to one’s health.

Future smoking legal restrictions would be approved by county residents, who strongly favor prohibitions of smoking in a car when minors are present (71% Yes), smoking in front of work place entrances (54% Yes), and smoking in outdoor public places (54% Yes). However, San Diegans oppose new restrictions on smoking in private condos or apartments with common walls (62% No). It’s clear that whatever new policies that may be passed into law, greater awareness to the high levels of health risks of smoking will keep more San Diegans away from smoking – more than three quarters of adults who view tobacco as extremely or very harmful have never used it, while 35% of those who believe it is not too harmful or not harmful have never smoked or chewed.