Washington County’s rate of adults smoking is the second lowest in the state, just behind Winneshiek County. In Washington County, 14.7% of adults smoke. Sarah Smith with Prelude Behavioral Services says the rate has fallen over the last two decades to the all-time low. She adds teenagers in the county do use tobacco as well with 13.8% of eleventh grade students in Washington County admitted to smoking in the last 30 days. Although, more teenagers are shifting to using e-cigarettes with 14.7% saying they had used those in the last 30 days. The data was collected through an anonymous survey.

Smith adds are still harmful because they contain nicotine and it’s the nicotine that people become addicted to and that is what causes heart disease. There are nicotine-replacement therapies to help people quit using tobacco. They help get through the cravings and Quitline Iowa has services available to Iowans looking to quit tobacco use.