Oregon Tobacco Facts

About Oregon Tobacco Facts

One of the primary responsibilities of the Oregon Tobacco Prevention and Education Program is to collect and report data about tobacco use and related topics among Oregon adults and youth.

The Oregon Tobacco Facts publication is a collection of this data. It includes tables, graphs and maps that describe tobacco use, economic burden, related diseases, and retail marketing in Oregon.

Fact sheets for each county can be found in Oregon County Tobacco Facts.

Oregon Tobacco Facts Table of Contents

The Oregon Tobacco Facts report includes the following sections.

Executive summary: Overview of the problem of tobacco, and the Oregon Tobacco Prevention and Education Program
Health and economic burden of tobacco: Includes leading causes of preventable death, tobacco-related death rates, and tobacco-related economic costs
Tobacco-related diseases: Includes chronic diseases among smokers, and tobacco-related cancer diagnoses and death rates
Adult cigarette smoking: Includes overall tobacco use, per capita cigarette pack sales over time and cigarette smoking by age, sex, county and other demographics
Youth tobacco use: Includes cigarette smoking and e-cigarette use by grade and county
Tobacco marketing and its effect in communities: Includes tobacco use by race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and other targeted demographics
Retail tobacco environment and marketing: Includes advertising exposure, price information, marketing expenditures, and characteristics of stores that sell tobacco
Citations

Suggested citation: Oregon Health Authority Public Health Division, Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention Section. Oregon tobacco facts. Available at https://www.oregon.gov/oha/ph/preventionwellness/tobaccoprevention/pages/oregon-tobacco-facts.aspx.

Section 1: Executive summary

The Oregon Tobacco Prevention and Education Program (TPEP) is a comprehensive program that works to decrease tobacco use across the state.

Together with partners, TPEP works to improve policies and environments that prevent youth use, help adults quit and counter the tobacco industry's targeting of stressed communities. Although communities have taken great strides toward decreasing tobacco use, some Oregonians have benefited more from these changes than others. To find out more about the work that Oregon's TPEP is doing visit https://www.oregon.gov/oha/ph/preventionwellness/tobaccoprevention/pages/index.aspx.

Since TPEP began in 1997, cigarette sales in Oregon have declined by about two-thirds (Figure 4.1). However, tobacco use remains the number one cause of preventable death and disease in Oregon. It kills approximately 8,000 people each year (Table 2.1). Tobacco use costs Oregonians an estimated $5.7 billion a year in medical expenses and lost productivity (Table 4.2).

This website describes current tobacco use, tobacco-related diseases, disparities and issues impacting you tobacco use throughout Oregon. Some key findings on this site are:

Youth (Figure 5.1) and adult (Table 4.2) cigarette smoking has decreased from 1997 to 2020 However, use of non-cigarette products is on the rise (Table 4.3; Figure 5.1).
Data show that more than half of youth and young adults who use tobacco are using flavored tobacco or vaping products (Figure 5.4).
In 2020, the tobacco industry spent over $8 billion in marketing, price discounts and promotional allowances for cigarettes and smokeless tobacco (1,2,3). This is about $23 million per day or almost $1 million an hour.
On March 17, 2022, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) published their first report on e-cigarettes. The data show, similar to cigarettes and smokeless tobacco, the retail setting is where e-cigarette companies are spending most of their money (4).
Almost 80% of the tobacco industry's total marketing expenditures for cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products (3) and 61% of e-cigarette products (4) are in the retail environment including convenience stores, pharmacies and grocery stores.
The tobacco industry spends more than $100 million every year to advertise and promote its products in Oregon's stores (Figure 7.1).
The tobacco industry targets people who have faced racism and other discrimination, people with lower incomes and people who are stressed or struggling. For example, about one in three Oregonians with a household income of less than $20,000 a year smoke compared to less than one in 10 Oregonians with a household income of more than $50,000 a year smoke (Table 6.1).

While some American Indian tribes use traditional tobacco and other plants for medicinal, ceremonial or religious purposes, when OHA refers to tobacco in this report, it is in reference to commercial tobacco and not the sacred and traditional tobacco used by some American Indian communities.

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Section 2: Health and economic burden of tobacco

Tobacco use affects all Oregonians. Tobacco use is the number-one cause of preventable death and disease in Oregon. Each year, tobacco use kills over 8,000 Oregonians (Table 2.1) and costs almost $5.7 billion in medical expenses and lost productivity (Table 2.3).

The burden of tobacco is not distributed equally. People living with lower incomes, less education, and marginalized social groups smoke at higher rates than other social groups. Consequently, they suffer a disproportionate burden of tobacco-related illness and death. They are also the most exploited victims of predatory marketing practices that capitalize on their lack of education and other vulnerabilities. Additionally, many of these marginalized social groups do not receive adequate access to treatment or protection through general public health policy interventions.

Table 2.1 Underlying causes of tobacco-related deaths, Oregon, 2021

Cause of death	Number of deaths	Tobacco-related deaths (%)
Cancers	2,219	26
Cardiovascular diseases	2,147	25
Respiratory diseases	1,414	17
Other	2,740	32
Total tobacco-related deaths	8,520	100

Source: Oregon Center for Health Statistics, Death data. Unpublished data.

Table 2.2 Tobacco-related death rates per 100,000 population by county, Oregon

Source: Oregon Center for Health Statistics, Death data. Unpublished data.
Note: Rates are per 100,000 population and are age-adjusted to the 2000 standard population.

Table 2.3 Estimated costs of tobacco-related medical treatment and lost productivity (in millions of dollars), Oregon, 2021

	Total costs	Cost of lost productivity	Medical costs
Oregon	5,691.7	5,453.0	238.5
Baker	17.8	16.9	0.9
Benton	35.9	32.9	3.0
Clackamas	245.0	232.5	12.5
Clatsop	46.2	41.6	4.6
Columbia	49.0	43.7	5.3
Coos	114.2	103.8	10.4
Crook	30.3	25.3	5.0
Curry	34.6	30.9	3.7
Deschutes	103.3	94.0	9.3
Douglas	172.0	161.0	11.0
Gilliam	1.9	1.8	0.1
Grant	8.6	7.4	1.2
Harney	5.3	4.6	0.7
Hood River	12.3	10.9	1.4
Jackson	213.4	200.6	12.8
Jefferson	20.9	18.1	2.8
Josephine	113.9	105.6	8.3
Klamath	90.5	82.7	7.8
Lake	8.5	6.9	1.6
Lane	310.3	295.3	15.0
Lincoln	75.0	67.9	7.1
Linn	135.6	126.0	9.6
Malheur	20.8	20.1	0.7
Marion	243.1	228.8	14.3
Morrow	8.3	8.0	0.3
Multnomah	531.3	505.8	25.5
Polk	52.3	48.3	4.0
Sherman	1.5	1.2	0.3
Tillamook	38.5	33.8	4.7
Umatilla	48.0	44.4	3.6
Union	19.6	18.6	1.0
Wallowa	4.7	4.3	0.4
Wasco	32.6	28.8	3.8
Washington	227.8	215.9	11.9
Wheeler	1.5	1.2	0.3
Yamhill	85.5	77.5	8.0

Source: Oregon Health Authority. Economic Costs of Tobacco Use in Oregon. Calculations Based on Oregon Population Data 2015-2019 and the Department of Health and Human Services (US) Smoking-Attributable Mortality, Morbidity, and Economic Costs (SAMMEC) data, 2021. Unpublished data.

*State and county estimates are calculated on different measures.

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Section 3: Tobacco-related diseases

Tobacco use is a major risk factor for developing chronic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and asthma (5). Oregonians who smoke are about 35% more likely to have one or more chronic diseases compared to nonsmokers - i.e. 64% vs 47% (6).

When people experience severe or long-lasting forms of stress, health problems like high blood pressure, elevated heart rate, and anxiety develop. People who are part of marginalized social groups experience prejudice and discrimination which can lead using tobacco as a way to relieve the stress. Additionally, under the pressure of this stress, it is harder for people to quit using tobacco.

About one out of five Oregonians with a chronic disease smoke cigarettes (Table 3.1). Using tobacco worsens outcomes for people living with chronic diseases. Quitting tobacco use and reducing exposure to secondhand smoke decreases the risk of developing certain chronic diseases and improves the health outcomes of those already living with chronic diseases. To advance better health for communities facing disadvantage, tobacco cessation efforts must be tailored to communities that might not be reached by general efforts.

Table 3.1 Percentage of adults with chronic diseases who smoke cigarettes, Oregon, 2021

	Percent (%)
One or more chronic diseases (1)	16.0
Arthritis	17.0
Asthma	16.4
Cancer	24.7
Cardiovascular disease (2)	19.9
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)	35.5
Depression	19.0
Diabetes	9.2

(1) One or more chronic disease includes arthritis, asthma, diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, depression or chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder.

(2) Cardiovascular disease includes coronary heart disease, angina, heart attack or stroke.

Source: Oregon Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Unpublished data.; Note: Estimates are age-adjusted to the 2000 standard population.

Table 3.2 Rate of lung and bronchus cancer diagnoses and death per 100,000 population by county, Oregon, 2016–2020

	Rate of new diagnoses	Death rate
Oregon	49.0	33.4
Baker	41.9	44.8
Benton	27.8	24.3
Clackamas	47.0	29.8
Clatsop	58.4	38.7
Columbia	68.4	47.4
Coos	66.3	47.6
Crook	63.3	35.2
Curry	53.0	42.9
Deschutes	39.2	24.0
Douglas	53.5	44.1
Gilliam	--	--
Grant	37.3	30.1
Harney	30.4	26.0
Hood River	38.7	29.4
Jackson	52.0	33.0
Jefferson	55.1	37.2
Josephine	60.5	43.8
Klamath	53.0	37.9
Lake	56.3	33.2
Lane	44.4	33.8
Lincoln	50.8	43.9
Linn	52.8	44.3
Malheur	43.0	32.0
Marion	56.7	35.7
Morrow	44.9	22.8
Multnomah	51.4	32.8
Polk	46.5	34.6
Sherman	--	--
Tillamook	53.3	46.8
Umatilla	44.4	33.2
Union	38.2	26.7
Wallowa	28.1	18.5
Wasco	64.0	44.4
Washington	41.7	24.2
Wheeler	50.8	--
Yamhill	48.7	32.9

Source: Diagnosis data from Oregon State Cancer Registry, death data from Oregon Center for Health Statistics. Unpublished data.

Note: Rates are per 100,000 population and age‐adjusted to the 2000 standard population.

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Section 4: Adult cigarette smoking

Tobacco prevention and education programs across Oregon began in 1997 and have increased access to tobacco free environments and evidence-based quitting support. Since 1996 (the year prior to the inception of TPEP), the percentage of Oregon adults who smoke cigarettes has declined by 42% (Table 4.2). The decline in adult smoking corresponds with a 61% decrease in per capita cigarette sales since 1996 (Table 4.1). Oregonians are smoking less or quitting entirely. Over half of adult cigarette smokers say they have tried to quit in the past year, and 65% say they want to quit (Table 4.6).

Despite progress, smoking affects some communities more than others.

About one in three Oregonians with a household income of less than $20,000 a year smoke. In comparison, less than one in 10 Oregonians with a household income of more than $50,000 a year smoke (Table 6.1).
Race and ethnicity are also important factors. Twenty-seven percent of American Indians in Oregon smoke compared to 17% of non-Hispanic whites (Figure 6.1).

The environments and systems that have contributed to these disparities must be addressed to reduce tobacco use and tobacco-related diseases. To learn more about smoking disparities, see section six of this website.

Table 4.1: Per capita cigarette pack sales, Oregon and the United States, 1993−2023

	Oregon	U.S.
1993	98.7	97.5
1994	96.6	90.1
1995	94.6	91.6
1996	94.3	91.0
1997	89.5	90.2
1998	84.2	86.8
1999	79.9	81.1
2000	72.0	77.6
2001	68.6	75.6
2002	66.6	74.5
2003	60.9	71.7
2004	55.2	68.1
2005	53.2	66.0
2006	54.7	64.7
2007	55.5	62.4
2008	50.4	58.6
2009	48.4	55.1
2010	44.7	50.1
2011	47.0	48.5
2012	44.7	46.0
2013	43.3	44.7
2014	41.4	42.1
2015	40.5	41.8
2016	40.0	41.0
2017	38.3	39.4
2018	37.2	36.7
2019	35.0	35.1
2020	33.6	34.2
2021	29.6	33.5
2022	25.6	31.0
2023	23.3	27.9

Orzechowski and Walker, The Tax Burden on tobacco. Historical compilation. Fairfax and Richmond, Virginia.

Figure 4.1: Per capita cigarette pack sales, Oregon and the United States, 1993−2023

Source: Orzechowski and Walker, The Tax Burden on tobacco. Historical compilation. Fairfax and Richmond, Virginia.

Table 4.2. Percentage of adult cigarette smoking by sex and total, Oregon, 1996–2021

		Percent (%)
Year	Total	Male	Female
1996	23.7	24.2	23.1
1997	20.9	22.0	19.7
1998	22.0	22.9	21.1
1999	21.4	22.0	20.9
2000	21.0	22.3	19.8
2001	20.9	21.9	19.8
2002	21.4	22.6	20.1
2003	21.1	23.2	18.8
2004	20.1	21.4	18.7
2005	18.8	20.6	17.0
2006	18.6	20.1	17.2
2007	17.0	18.8	15.3
2008	15.7	16.1	15.4
2009	17.5	18.5	16.4
2010	20.7	22.3	19.1
2011	20.5	22.6	18.4
2012	18.5	19.9	17.2
2013	17.8	18.6	17.0
2014	16.9	18.2	15.7
2015	17.7	18.9	16.5
2016	17.1	19.4	14.9
2017	17.0	19.0	15.0
2018	16.3	16.0	16.7
2019	15.1	15.9	14.3
2020	14.1	15.2	13.0
2021	12.6	13.9	11.1

Source: Adult Tobacco Use: Oregon Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Available from: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/DISEASESCONDITIONS/CHRONICDISEASE/DATAREPORTS/Pages/Substance-use.aspx.

Note: Estimates are age-adjusted to the 2000 standard population. Data collection and weighting methods changed in 2010. Estimates beginning in 2010 should not be compared to those from earlier years.

Table 4.3: Percentage of adult tobacco use, by product type, Oregon, 2014-2021

			Percent (%)
Year	Cigarettes	E-cigarettes	Smokeless tobacco	Any tobacco product (1)
2014	16.9	8.1	3.8	24.3
2015	17.7	6.5	4.1	25.7
2016	17.1	4.4	4.6	24.5
2017	17.0	4.9	4.0	26.4
2018	16.3	6.0	4.6	25.4
2019	15.1	6.6	3.9	24.6
2020	14.1	5.3	4.1	23.0
2021	12.6	6.9	4.1	24.0

(1) Any tobacco product includes cigarette, e-cigarette, smokeless tobacco, large or small cigars or hookah.

Source: Adult Tobacco Use: Oregon Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Available from: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/DISEASESCONDITIONS/CHRONICDISEASE/DATAREPORTS/Pages/Substance-use.aspx.

Note: Estimates are age-adjusted to the 2000 standard population.

Table 4.4 Percentage of adult tobacco use by age and sex, Oregon, 2021

	Percent (%)
	Cigarette smoking			E-cigarettes			Other tobacco product(1)			Any tobacco product(2)
Age group	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total
18–24	11.1	6.0	8.6	20.8	21.1	20.9	19.7	6.8	13.4	36.2	27.1	31.8
25–34	14.6	12.2	13.4	10.0	8.1	9.1	16.8	6.4	11.6	34.9	21.8	28.3
35–44	19.8	12.9	16.4	8.9	5.4	7.2	15.9	4.0	9.9	36.3	19.4	27.8
45–54	14.6	11.3	13.0	2.3	4.2	3.3	15.7	3.1	9.4	28.3	16.7	22.5
55–64	12.2	15.1	13.7	2.4	2.5	2.5	11.0	3.8	7.2	23.0	19.4	21.1
65–74	10.6	11.5	11.1	1.6	1.5	1.6	8.6	3.6	6.0	18.3	14.4	16.3
75+	3.7^	4.5	4.2	--	--	0.8^	5.1	1.6^	3.1	9.3	6.3	7.6

^ indicates the estimate may be statistically unreliable and should be interpreted with caution.

-- this number is suppressed because it is statistically unreliable.

(1) Other tobacco products include smokeless tobacco, large or small cigars or hookah.

(2) Any tobacco product includes cigarette, e-cigarette, smokeless tobacco, large or small cigars or hookah.

Source: Oregon Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Unpublished data.

Note: Estimates are age-adjusted to the 2000 standard population.

Figure 4.2 Percentage of adult cigarette smoking, by county, Oregon, 2018-2021

Red dashed counties indicates the estimate may be statistically unreliable and should be interpreted with caution.

Counties filled in white are suppressed because they have statistically unreliable data.

(1) North Central Public Health District includes Gilliam, Sherman and Wasco counties.

Source: Oregon Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System County Combined dataset, 2016 –2019. Unpublished data.

Note: Estimates are age-adjusted to the 2000 standard population.

Table 4.5 Percentage of adult cigarette smoking, by county, Oregon, 2018-2021

	Percent (%)
Oregon	14.7
Baker	22.4
Benton	9.5
Clackamas	14.4
Clatsop	16.4
Columbia	23.9
Coos	23.3
Crook	16.9
Curry	19.2
Deschutes	11.7
Douglas	20.4
Gilliam	--
Grant	23.3
Harney	9.3^
Hood River	10.1
Jackson	17.9
Jefferson	12.1
Josephine	21.4
Klamath	16.3
Lake	10.7^
Lane	15.0
Lincoln	19.8
Linn	14.5
Malheur	18.2
Marion	14.9
Morrow	18.1^
Multnomah	14.0
Polk	13.6
Sherman	18.0^
Tillamook	20.9
Umatilla	16.6
Union	15.3
Wallowa	12.2
Wasco	16.0
Washington	9.9
Wheeler	--
Yamhill	13.6

^ indicates the estimate may be statistically unreliable and should be interpreted with caution.

-- this number is suppressed because it is statistically unreliable.

Source: Oregon Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System County Combined dataset, 2018 –2021. Unpublished data.

Note: Estimates are age-adjusted to the 2000 standard population.

Table 4.6 Percentage of adult smokers by quit status and county, Oregon, 2018–2021

	Wants to quit cigarette smoking (%)	Attempted to quit cigarette smoking during previous year (%)
Oregon	63.5	53.7
Baker	--	36.0
Benton	47.7	50.5
Clackamas	65.7	53.2
Clatsop	--	36.4
Columbia	55.9	54.7
Coos	69.0	63.2
Crook	--	52.2
Curry	--	53.0
Deschutes	69.1	62.6
Douglas	65.9	55.8
Gilliam	--	--
Grant	--	--
Harney	--	--
Hood River	--	--
Jackson	67.5	55.0
Jefferson	--	--
Josephine	58.6	55.5
Klamath	59.2	49.2
Lake	--	--
Lane	65.9	54.8
Lincoln	55.8	60.8
Linn	66.6	57.4
Malheur	--	46.7
Marion	62.4	55.6
Morrow	--	--
Multnomah	63.6	53.5
Polk	70.8	49.1
Sherman	--	--
Tillamook	--	33.9
Umatilla	55.2	53.1
Union	--	49.6
Wallowa	--	--
Wasco	--	--
Washington	69.8	57.6
Wheeler	--	--
Yamhill	59.4	47.0

-- this number is suppressed because it is statistically unreliable.

Source: Oregon Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System County Combined dataset, 2018 –2021. Unpublished data.

Note: Estimates are age-adjusted to the 2000 standard population.

Table 4.7 Percentage of births to mothers who smoke cigarettes during pregnancy, Oregon and the United States, 1993–2021

	Percent (%)
Year	U.S.	Oregon
1993	15.8	18.9
1994	14.6	18.2
1995	13.9	17.9
1996	13.6	17.8
1997	13.2	16.2
1998	12.9	15.2
1999	12.6	14.5
2000	12.2	13.5
2001	12.0	12.8
2002	11.4	12.6
2003	10.7	12.0
2004	10.2	12.6
2005	10.7	12.4
2006	10.0	12.3
2007	10.4	11.7
2008	9.7	11.8
2009	9.3	11.3
2010	9.2	11.3
2011	8.9	10.7
2012	8.7	10.6
2013	8.5	10.2
2014	8.4	10.4
2015	7.7	10.0
2016	7.2	9.6
2017	6.9	9.0
2018	6.5	8.4
2019	5.9	7.5
2020	5.5	6.8
2021	4.6	5.6

Sources: Oregon Center for Health Statistics; National Center for Health Statistics. Unpublished data.

Figure 4.3 Percentage of births to mothers who smoke cigarettes during pregnancy by county, Oregon, 2019–2021

Counties filled in white are suppressed because they have statistically unreliable data.

Source: Source: Oregon Center for Health Statistics, Birth data. Unpublished data.

Table 4.8 Percentage of births to mothers who smoke cigarettes during pregnancy by county, Oregon, 2019–2021

	Percent (%)
Oregon	6.7
Baker	15.0
Benton	4.9
Clackamas	4.5
Clatsop	10.7
Columbia	8.3
Coos	15.2
Crook	13.8
Curry	16.0
Deschutes	5.3
Douglas	17.0
Gilliam	--
Grant	11.1
Harney	12.2
Hood River	2.3
Jackson	9.0
Jefferson	9.3
Josephine	11.0
Klamath	12.1
Lake	15.3
Lane	9.1
Lincoln	14.2
Linn	11.0
Malheur	11.1
Marion	6.1
Morrow	5.7
Multnomah	4.4
Polk	6.9
Sherman	--
Tillamook	12.0
Umatilla	8.4
Union	9.4
Wallowa	12.0
Wasco	8.5
Washington	1.9
Wheeler	--
Yamhill	7.9

-- this number is suppressed because it is statistically unreliable.

Source: Source: Oregon Center for Health Statistics, Birth data. Unpublished data.

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Section 5: Youth tobacco use

Most addiction to tobacco starts in adolescence. In fact, nine of 10 adults who smoke report that they started smoking before turning 18 (7). Studies show that the younger someone is when they start smoking, the harder it is to quit (8,9). Teenager's developing brains are vulnerable to the highly addictive nicotine in tobacco products (10).

The truth is, where you see a young person, tobacco companies see a replacement smoker (11). Data show that the industry has increased nicotine concentrations by about 60% between 2015 and 2018 (4).

From 1996 to 2022, cigarette smoking among 11th-graders decreased more than 80% and among eighth graders by more than 90% (Table 5.1).
Despite these decreases in youth smoking, many young people still smoke. Many of them will continue to smoke into adulthood.

Non-cigarette use

The rise in use of other tobacco products, such as little cigars, e-cigarettes and hookah, is also a concern.

In Oregon from 2013 to 2019, e-cigarette use among 11th graders increased over four-fold from 5% to 23% (Table 5.1). 2020 marked the first year that we saw a decrease in e-cigarette use among 11th graders and has continued to slowly decline in 2022 (11%).
Two in three (66%) of 11^th graders who have ever used tobacco report e-cigarettes as the first product used (Figure 5.2).

Less regulation

Non-cigarette tobacco products such as little cigars, electronic cigarettes and hookah are less regulated than cigarettes. Laws in the United States limit flavors, labeling and marketing of cigarettes. Cigarettes can no longer contain flavors other than menthol. Accordingly, cigarette use has declined. Non-cigarette tobacco products by comparison are cheap, available in flavors and come in packaging that appeals to young people. Non-cigarette tobacco products are heavily promoted in convenience stores and other locations accessible to youth.

Flavor appeal

Products with flavors such as electronic cigarettes, little cigars and hookah are more popular among youth and young adults compared to older adults (Table 5.6). More than three in four Oregon youth who use tobacco use flavored tobacco compared to about 13% of adults who use tobacco over the age of 35 (Figure 5.4). Flavors appear to be a key component for youth to start using tobacco(12).

Widely available

Over 93% of stores in Oregon that sell tobacco sell flavored tobacco products (Table 7.2). More than half of Oregon 11th-graders (54%) report having seen advertising promoting tobacco or vaping products.

Cheap

Flavored non-cigarette tobacco products are cheap. Retailers can sell these products in single units, which reduces the price. Nearly 57% of tobacco stores advertised single little cigars for under $1 many of which are flavored (Table 7.2). Low prices make these products more affordable for young people.

Table 5.1 Percentage of youth cigarette smoking and e-cigarette use, Oregon, 1996–2022

	Cigarettes (%)		E-cigarettes (%)
Year	8th grade	11th grade	8th grade	11th grade
1996	21.6	27.6
1997	23.0	24.4
1998	20.2	31.7
1999	14.8	26.3
2000	12.9	22.3
2001	12.3	19.6
2002	10.7	19.9
2003	10.5	18.7
2004	8.1	16.5
2005	9.8	16.9
2006	8.7	15.4
2007	9.0	16.1
2008	8.6	16.0
2009	9.9	14.9
2010	8.2	14.3
2011	6.6	11.5	1.3	1.8
2012	5.6	11.9
2013	4.3	9.8	1.8	5.2
2014	4.5	10.0
2015	4.3	8.8	9.3	17.1
2016	3.3	7.7		14.0
2017	3.0	7.7	6.3	12.9
2018	2.8	5.8		20.8
2019	2.6	4.9	11.8	23.4
2020	1.2	2.9	5.1	11.9
2022	1.3	3.2	4.7	10.8

Source: Student Drug Use Survey (1996, 1998, 2000); Youth Risk Behavior Survey (1997, 1999); Oregon Healthy Teens (2001-2009, 2011, 2013, 2015,2017,2019); Student Wellness Survey (2012, 2014, 2016,2018); Student Health Survey (2020,2022). Unpublished data.

Figure 5.1 Percentage of youth cigarette smoking and e-cigarette use, Oregon, 1996–2022

Table 5.2 Percentage of youth exposed to tobacco, Oregon, 2019

	8th graders (%)	11th graders (%)
Saw someone smoking or vaping on school property (current school year)	42.7	70.0
Secondhand smoke or vape exposure in the home	9.1	8.6

Source: Oregon Healthy Teens; https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/DISEASESCONDITIONS/CHRONICDISEASE/DATAREPORTS/Documents/datatables/ORAnnualOHT_Tobacco.pdf.

Table 5.3 Percentage of youth tobacco use by product type, Oregon, 2022

	6th graders (%)	8th graders (%)	11th graders (%)
Any tobacco product (1)	1.8	5.9	12.8
E-cigarettes (2)	1.4	4.7	10.8
Cigarettes	0.4	1.3	3.2
Smokeless tobacco		0.3	0.8
Little cigars		0.3	1.1
Hookah		0.3	0.5

(1) Any tobacco product includes cigarettes, large or little cigars, hookah tobacco, smokeless tobacco or electronic cigarettes or other vaping products.

(2) E-cigarettes includes those shaped like USB flash drives and Juul.

Source: Student Health Survey, unpublished data.

Table 5.4 Percentage of youth tobacco product type use by grade and county, Oregon, 2022

	8th Grade			11th Grade
	Any tobacco product* (%)	Cigarette smoking (%)	E-cigarette (1) (%)	Any tobacco product* (%)	Cigarette smoking (%)	E-cigarettes (2) (%)
Oregon	5.9	1.3	4.7	12.8	3.2	10.8
Baker	4.2	--	3.7	28.5	9.2	25.1
Benton	--	--	--	--	--	--
Clackamas	4.6	1.1	3.9	14.4	4.1	12.5
Clatsop	--	--	--	19.0	6.3	16.7
Columbia	10.0^	2.5^	8.3^	13.6^	3.3	11.6^
Coos	15.6	--	11.4	16.7	--	9.8
Crook	--	--	--	--	--	--
Curry	--	--	--	--	--	28.6
Deschutes	5.2	1.3	4.4	17.2	4.8	14.5
Douglas	12.1	4.0	8.6	22.0	--	19.9
Gilliam	--	--	--	--	--	--
Grant	--	--	--	--	--	--
Harney	--	-	--	--	--	--
Hood River	12.7	--	8.9	17.6	7.9	13.2
Jackson	6.2	--	5.1	20.8	9.7^	16.8
Jefferson	--	--	--	--	--	--
Josephine	8.0^	--	6.7^	13.6^	--	11.1^
Klamath	--	--	--	--	--	--
Lake	9.1	--	9.1	31.2	9.4	31.2
Lane	8.1	2.1^	6.7	16.2	2.9	13.9
Lincoln	3.7^	--	2.3^	22.4	5.6	17.9
Linn	6.9	--	5.3	13.1	4.5^	10.5
Malheur	9.4^	--	7.9^	15.1	--	12.5
Marion	3.0^	--	2.3^	5.4	1.3	4.9
Morrow	6.3	--	5.3	10.1	3.0	9.4
Multnomah	7.0	1.3	5.5	10.7	1.1^	9.1
Polk	7.2	--	5.8	13.6	4.3	10.8^
Sherman	--	--	--	--	--	--
Tillamook	6.3	--	4.4	22.8^	5.3	19.2
Umatilla	6.9	1.1^	5.5	13.3^	--	10.8^
Union	7.0^	--	6.3^	21.3^	4.7^	19.8^
Wallowa	--	--	--	--	--	--
Wasco	--	--	--	--	--	--
Washington	2.8	0.5	2.2	6.5	1.7	5.6
Wheeler	--	--	--	--	--	--
Yamhill	--	--	--	14.2	4.2	12.5

(1) Any tobacco product includes cigarettes, large or little cigars, hookah tobacco, smokeless tobacco or electronic cigarettes or other vaping products.

(2) E-cigarettes includes those shaped like USB flash drives and Juul.

(3) North Central Public Health District includes Gilliam, Sherman and Wasco counties.

^ indicates the estimate may be statistically unreliable and should be interpreted with caution.

-- this number is suppressed because it is statistically unreliable.

Source: Oregon Student Health Survey, unpublished data.

Figure 5.2 Percentage of first tobacco product type used among 11th graders who have ever used tobacco, Oregon, 2022

^ indicates the estimate may be statistically unreliable and should be interpreted with caution.

Answers of “I’m not sure” and “Don’t know” are included in the denominator.
Source: Oregon Student Health Survey, unpublished data.

Table 5.5 Percentage and number of sources of tobacco products among youth who have ever used tobacco, Oregon, 2022

	8th grade (%)	Estimated number of students	11th grade (%)	Estimated number of students
Social sources (1)	43.6	1,100	44.0	2,500
Friends under 21 years of age	16.3	400	20.5	1,100
Friends 21 years old or older	31.2	800	30.9	1,700
A store or gas station	8.7	200	13.8	800
The Internet	3.4	100	4.3	200
Some other source	18.2	500	14.1	800

(1) Social sources include friends under 21, friends 21 or older or a family member.

Source: Oregon Healthy Teens, unpublished data.

Figure 5.3 Percentage of cigarette and e-cigarettes use among Oregon youth and adults, 2022

Sources: Oregon Student Health Survey; Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance System. Unpublished data.

Notes: Adult data are age-adjusted to the 2000 standard population.

Table 5.6 Percentage of current tobacco product use by type and selected age groups, Oregon, 2021-2022

	Percent (%)
	8th graders	11th graders	Young adults (18-24)	Older adults (25+)
Cigarettes	1.3	3.2	8.6	12.6
Electronic cigarettes	4.7	10.8	20.9	4.4
Small cigars	0.3	1.1	3.3	1.6
Hookah	0.3	0.5	2.9	2.1
Smokeless tobacco	0.3	0.8	7.2	3.1

Sources: Oregon Student Health Survey; Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance System. Unpublished data.

Note: Estimates for older adults are age-adjusted to the 2000 standard population.

Figure 5.4 Percentage of flavored tobacco or vaping product use among current tobacco users by selected age groups, Oregon, 2022

Sources: Oregon Student Health Survey; Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance System. Unpublished data.

Back to Table of Contents

Section 6: Tobacco Marketing and Its Effect in Communities

Tobacco use and the health problems that come from it are not equal in communities in Oregon. The tobacco industry focuses on certain groups. To promote and sell products, they use community values and culture of people, such as those who:

Face systemic racism and discrimination
Have low income
Deal with stress or have mental health challenges, and
Are LGBTQIA2S+ folks.

Many of these same communities did not get enough protection from policies or programs to:

Quit smoking, and
Make healthier choices.

Among these groups, this has led to great disparities in:

Smoking rates, and
Health outcomes.

American Indian and Alaska Native communities

Many Tribal communities view traditional tobacco as sacred. They use it for healing, prayer and celebration. However, the tobacco industry has used this tradition to their advantage. They did so by adding harmful chemicals to sell commercial tobacco to these communities. Over the years, this caused harm to Tribes and Tribal communities in Oregon. The industry misused cultural imagery and falsely represented sacred traditions in its marketing. Tribal Nations are not required to go by state and local smoke-free laws. The tobacco industry views these as markets without protections and uses them to make profits.

In Oregon, 27 percent of American Indians and Alaska Natives smoke cigarettes (Figure 6.1).
Nine Federally Recognized Tribes have commercial tobacco prevention programs and education programs. They are reclaiming traditional tobacco (13).

Black, African and African American communities

In the 1950s, the tobacco industry used Black empowerment and identity themes to create the “Kool" brand and other ads. It saturated Black and African American magazines and neighborhoods with ads of people smoking menthols. It made it seem part of the community's culture and experience. Today, the tobacco industry spends lots of money lobbying to keep menthol cigarettes, the only flavored cigarettes, on the market (14, 15).

More than 58% of Black smokers in Oregon use menthols (Table 6.4).
Menthol cigarettes have a cooling mint flavor. That makes it easier to inhale more nicotine and harder to quit than other cigarettes (11).

People living in low-income multi-unit housing

Everyone deserves protection from the smoke of others. This includes those in multi-unit housing. Residents, including children, may inhale smoke from close units even if family members don't smoke. Families in apartments often don't have control over their spaces, which exposes them to more smoke from others than those who live in a house.
Smoke-free policies can help. But they may not protect all communities the same way. Some populations are at higher risk of exposure to smoke from others. This includes people of color, low-income and other groups.

Different factors add to the higher risk in these communities. This includes:

Limited access to information and resources
Fear of retaliation
Lack of trust in the government and enforcement programs, and
Historical and current traumas stemming from systematic racism and oppression.

These factors together create barriers to reporting violations and access to safe, smoke-free housing.

In Oregon, 18 percent of those who rent are exposed to secondhand smoke. This compares to 15 percent of those who own their homes (Table 6.6).

People experiencing mental health challenges

About 25 percent of people in Oregon are living with at least one mental health challenge (6). This includes:

Depression
Anxiety, and
Substance use problems (12).

These communities often live in areas with more tobacco stores and ads.

About one in four or 24 percent of people who report experiencing poor mental health also smoke (Table 6.1).

The industry has funded misleading research to promote two false claims. For example, it is bad for people living with mental health challenges to quit tobacco. Also, that nicotine helps improve overall mood. These are not true (15). The tobacco industry continues to engage groups that help patients by donating money in exchange for promoting their tobacco products (14).

LGBTQIA2S+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, two-spirit +)

To sell their products, the tobacco industry has used values such as freedom, pride and a sense of belonging.

Today, the industry continues to appeal to the LGBTQIA2S+ community with the financial support of events, media and organizations. These tactics are an effort to normalize tobacco use within queer communities.

Among adults in Oregon, the following smoke cigarettes (Table 6.2).

14% of lesbian women
20% of bisexual women
17% of gay men, and
25% of bisexual men.

Table 6.1: Percentage of adult cigarette smoking, by select demographic groups, Oregon

	Percent (%)
Annual household income (2023)
Less than $25,000	22.1
$25,000 – $49,999	14.7
$50,000 – $99,999	9.8
$100,000 – $149,999	7.8
$150,000 or more	3.8
Education (2023)
Less than high school graduate	22.0
High school graduate or GED	16.0
Some college	12.5
College graduate	3.8
Housing status (2023)
Rent	18.1
Own	8.9
Insurance (2023)
No health insurance	16.5
Have health insurance (1)	10.6
Reporting mental health not good for 14 or more days in the past 30 days (2023)
Experiencing poor mental health	18.8
Not experiencing poor mental health	9.2
Urban or rural residency (3) (2018-2021)
Rural	18.3
Urban	13.8

(1) Includes Oregon Health Plan members

(2) Low socio‐economic status includes having less than a high school education or being at 100% or less of the federal poverty level.

(3)Urban or rural residency was designated using ZIP code level rural-urban commuting area (RUCA) codes. For more information on RUCA codes see http://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/rural-urban-commuting-area-codes.aspx.

Source: Oregon Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Unpublished data.

Notes: Estimates are age-adjusted to the 2000 standard population.

Table 6.2: Percentage of adult cigarette smoking, by sexual orientation, Oregon, 2018-2021

	Percent (%)
Women
Lesbian women	14.2
Bisexual women	20.1
Heterosexual women	13.4
Men
Gay men	17.0
Bisexual men	25.0
Heterosexual men	14.8

Source: Oregon Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Unpublished data.

Notes: Estimates are age-adjusted to the 2000 standard population.

Figure 6.1 Percentage of adult cigarette smoking by race and ethnicity, Oregon, 2018-2021

Source: Oregon Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

Note: Estimates are age-adjusted to the 2000 standard population.

Table 6.3 Percentage of adult tobacco use⁽¹⁾ among Oregon Health Plan members, by race and ethnicity, Oregon, 2018-2021

Race/Ethnicity	Percent (%)
American Indian and Alaska Native, non-Latino/a/x/e	39.6
Asian, non-Latino/a/x/e	15.4
Black and African American, non-Latino/a/x/e	28.9
Latino/a/x/e	18.3
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, non-Latino/a/x/e (2016-2021)	30.7
White, non-Latino/a/x/e	25.8

(1) Any tobacco product includes cigarette, e-cigarette, smokeless tobacco, large or small cigars or hookah.
Source: Oregon Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

Table 6.4. Percentage of adult menthol cigarette use among cigarette smokers, by race, Oregon, 2018-2021

Race/Ethnicity	Percent (%)
American Indian and Alaska Native, non-Latino/a/x/e	22.0
Asian, non-Latino/a/x/e	30.8
Black and African American, non-Latino/a/x/e	60.9
Latino/a/x/e	32.8
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, non-Latino/a/x/e (2016-2021)	57.4
White, non-Latino/a/x/e	16.8

Source: Oregon Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

Note: Estimates for adults are age-adjusted to the 2000 standard population.

Table 6.5. Percentage of menthol cigarette use among cigarette smokers, by age group, Oregon

	Percent (%)
Adults	21.3
11th grade	44.6
8th grade	43.0

Sources: Student Health Survey (2022); Oregon Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (2023)
Note: Estimates for adults are age-adjusted to the 2000 standard population.

Table 6.6: Percentage of adult exposure to any secondhand smoke indoors in a typical week, by demographic groups, Oregon, 2020

	Percent (%)
Annual household income
Less than $20,000	26.2
$20,000– $49,999	17.3
$50,000 or more	8.0
Employment status
Employed or self-employed	12.8
Unemployed	20.0
Not in workforce	12.3
Housing status
Rent	17.6
Own	10.4
Urban or rural residency (1)
Rural	18.9
Urban	14.5

(1) Urban or rural residency was designated using ZIP code level rural-urban commuting area (RUCA) codes. For more information on RUCA codes see http://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/rural-urban-commuting-area-codes.aspx.

Source: Oregon Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

Notes: Estimates are age-adjusted to the 2000 standard population.

Back to Table of Contents

Section 7: Retail tobacco environment and marketing

The tobacco industry spends more than one million per hour promoting its products in the United States. (20)

In Oregon, the industry spends about $100 million on marketing every year (Figure 7.1).
Nearly 80% of the tobacco industry's total marketing expenditures for cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products (21) and 61% for e-cigarette products (4) are is in the retail environment including convenience stores, pharmacies and grocery stores.

In 2023, the average cost of a pack of cigarettes in Oregon was approximately $10.33 (Table 7.1). However, the price of a pack is often less than that to the buyer because the tobacco industry provides discounts to offset the price. To offer these discounts to consumers, retailers must follow tobacco company requirements on product placement and advertising in their stores. This increases exposure to promotional advertising and product displays (22). Approximately three out of every five tobacco retailers advertise sales, discounts or other price promotions on tobacco products (Table 7.2).

Appeal to Kids

Tobacco products are often marketed to appeal to kids. They often have candy-like packaging, come in sweet flavors and are advertised or placed in areas where youth are likely to see them (Table 7.3). One in two high schoolers reported seeing tobacco product ads at a store within the last month (Table 7.4).

Among stores that sell tobacco in Oregon:

Nearly one in five display toys, candy or gum within 12 inches of tobacco products (Table 7.2).
More thank one in five place advertisements for tobacco products within three feet of the floor (Table 7.2).
Over nine in 10 stores sell flavored tobacco (Table 7.2)., which makes them appealing to young people (23).

Youth Access to Tobacco

Most youth who use tobacco get tobacco from friends, family members or from their home (Table 7.5), whereas adults more commonly purchase their cigarettes at convenience stores or gas stations (Table 7.6).

In 2018, Oregon made it illegal to sell tobacco to people under the age of 21. Prior to 2018, it was illegal to sell to those under 18. The Oregon Legislature passed statewide Tobacco Retail Licensing (TRL) into law in 2021. As of January 2022, any business needs to get a tobacco retail license to sell tobacco and inhalant delivery system (vaping) products.

Among a representative sample of tobacco retailers inspected in 2023, 21% illegally sold tobacco to underage Oregonians. This was a decrease from 26% in 2022.
Small cigars/cigarillos and e-cigarettes are illegally sold to underage youth more frequently than cigarettes (Figure 7.3).
Retail sales to underage Oregonians was highest in certified smoke shops and cigar bars, followed by vape shops (Table 7.8).

In 2021, Oregon voters pass Measure 108. This law changed the definition of little cigars, added a tax on e-cigarette products and increased the tax on cigars as well as included cigarette tax increase from $1.33 per pack to $3.33 per pack. Revenue raised from Measure 108 is used to fund community-based organizations and the Oregon Health Plan.

Figure 7.1 Annual tobacco industry marketing expenditures and Oregon Tobacco Prevention and Education Program funding (in millions of dollars), Oregon, 1998–2022

Source: Expenditures in Oregon: Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. "The Toll of Tobacco in Oregon," 2020. https://www.tobaccofreekids.org/problem/toll-us/oregon; Oregon TPEP Funding: Unpublished data.

Note: Oregon Tobacco Prevention and Education program funding is per biennium.

Table 7.1 Average cigarette pack price in Oregon, Washington and California (1), 1990-2023

	Oregon	Washington	California
1990	$1.57	$1.68	$1.64
1991	$1.60	$1.77	$1.87
1992	$1.77	$1.99	$2.02
1993	$1.92	$2.02	$2.05
1994	$1.78	$2.20	$1.90
1995	$1.90	$2.26	$1.95
1996	$1.91	$2.47	$1.98
1997	$1.98	$2.65	$2.00
1998	$2.34	$2.73	$2.08
1999	$2.58	$2.87	$2.25
2000	$3.24	$3.60	$3.51
2001	$3.46	$3.82	$3.66
2002	$3.62	$3.95	$3.98
2003	$4.05	$4.77	$4.08
2004	$4.24	$4.66	$3.95
2005	$4.14	$4.73	$3.84
2006	$4.23	$5.28	$3.95
2007	$4.21	$5.40	$3.95
2008	$4.29	$5.51	$4.20
2009	$4.29	$5.69	$4.29
2010	$5.10	$6.92	$5.09
2011	$5.41	$7.61	$5.37
2012	$5.52	$7.64	$5.40
2013	$5.47	$7.69	$5.40
2014	$5.68	$7.75	$5.51
2015	$5.71	$7.82	$5.48
2016	$5.91	$7.85	$5.61
2017	$6.00	$7.99	$5.61
2018	$6.12	$8.18	$7.66
2019	$6.33	$8.32	$7.86
2020	$6.50	$8.57	$8.14
2021	$6.82	$8.94	$8.41
2022	$9.56	$9.26	$8.87
2023	$10.33	$9.94	$9.56

(1) Price includes generic brand

Source: Orzechowski and Walker, The Tax Burden on tobacco. Historical compilation. Fairfax and Richmond, Virginia.

Figure 7.2 Average cigarette pack price in Oregon, Washington and California(1), 1990-2022

(1) Price includes generic brands.

Source: Orzechowski and Walker, The Tax Burden on tobacco. Historical compilation. Fairfax and Richmond, Virginia.

Table 7.2 Percentage of Oregon retailers with tobacco product marketing, 2018

Total number of tobacco retailers(1)	3145
Among tobacco retailers	(%)
Advertised little cigars for under $1	56.6
Any tobacco product or advertisement that is displayed in a manner that appeals to youth	33.0
Tobacco advertisements displayed within 3 ft. of the floor	21.4
Tobacco products displayed within 12 inches of candy or toys	19.7
Price promotions displayed for any tobacco product (discounts, 2 for 1, etc.)	63.9
Sell flavored tobacco	93.2

(1) Number of stores that sell tobacco or vaping products that are accessible to unaccompanied people under 21 (excludes liquor stores, bars, etc.).
Source: Oregon Tobacco and Alcohol Retail Assessment, 2018.

Table 7.3 Percentage and number of Oregon retailers with tobacco product marketing by county, 2018

	Any tobacco product or advertisement that is placed in a manner that appeals to youth (%)	Tobacco advertisements within 3 ft. of the floor (%)	Tobacco products 12 inches from toys (%)	Any tobacco price promotion (%)	Flavored tobacco available (%)	Total number of retailers (1)
Oregon	33.0	21.4	19.7	63.9	93.2	3145
Baker	9.1	4.6	9.1	68.2	95.5	24
Benton	26.3	18.4	13.2	84.2	94.7	45
Clackamas	15.4	4.4	12.3	39.0	93.4	240
Clatsop	18.4	10.5	13.2	39.5	89.5	49
Columbia	25.0	11.1	16.7	86.1	97.2	40
Coos	21.9	9.4	17.2	67.2	98.4	71
Crook	39.1	34.8	17.4	60.9	91.3	24
Curry	35.0	15.0	25.0	65.0	100.0	24
Deschutes	40.5	21.6	32.4	73.0	91.9	109
Douglas	27.3	20.5	13.6	65.9	97.7	146
Grant	8.3	NA	8.3	58.3	83.3	18
Harney	80.0	60.0	50.0	100.0	70.0	16
Hood River	20.8	16.7	8.3	70.8	100.0	23
Jackson	53.3	44.4	11.1	82.2	95.6	172
Jefferson	22.2	16.7	5.6	11.1	100.0	27
Josephine	37.0	26.1	17.4	84.8	97.8	87
Klamath	26.6	22.8	8.9	60.8	87.3	84
Lake	14.3	14.3	NA	42.9	85.7	14
Lane	28.1	15.8	18.7	74.8	97.1	323
Lincoln	13.6	2.3	11.4	40.9	93.2	60
Linn	28.3	19.6	19.6	54.4	90.2	103
Malheur	8.3	4.2	8.3	25.0	87.5	24
Marion	64.7	45.1	43.1	27.5	94.1	224
Morrow	40.0	20.0	20.0	70.0	100.0	10
Multnomah	30.8	16.6	19.8	73.1	93.7	608
North Central (2)	29.3	22.0	12.2	73.2	82.9	49
Polk	46.5	32.6	37.2	90.7	95.4	47
Tillamook	44.8	37.9	17.2	82.8	82.8	33
Umatilla	37.0	34.8	13.0	73.9	95.7	73
Union	7.7	NA	7.7	73.1	100.0	28
Wallowa	20.0	20.0	NA	90.0	40.0	10
Washington	36.4	21.9	30.7	53.5	88.2	265
Wheeler	NA	NA	NA	100.0	50.0	3
Yamhill	27.3	21.2	10.6	84.9	90.9	72

(1) Number of stores that sell tobacco or vaping products that are accessible to unaccompanied people under 21 (excludes liquor stores, bars, etc.).

(2) North Central Public Health District includes Gilliam, Sherman and Wasco counties.

NA = Not applicable.

Source: Oregon Tobacco and Alcohol Retail Assessment, 2018. Oregon Tobacco Retailer Database, 2020

Table 7.4 Percentage of youths exposed to tobacco advertising, Oregon, 2022

	11th graders (%)
Saw a tobacco advertisement on a storefront or in a store in past 30 days	54.3

Source: Oregon Student Health Survey.

Table 7.5 Percentage of sources of tobacco products and ease of access among youth, Oregon, 2022

	8th grade (%)	11th grade (%) )
Source of tobacco (1)
A store or gas station	8.7	13.8
A social source: Friend or family over 21	16.3	20.5
A social source: Friend or family under 21	31.2	30.9
The internet	3.4	4.3
Some other source	18.2	14.1
Ease of access (2)
Easy to get cigarettes	22.0	32.3
Easy to get e-cigarettes	26.9	47.4

(1) Youth that had used tobacco or vaping products in the past 30 days were asked where they had gotten their products. Responses do not add to 100% because respondents could select more than one source.

(2) Among all respondents, regardless of whether current tobacco users, percent indicating it would be very easy or sort of easy to get the tobacco product.

Source: Oregon Student Health Survey.

Table 7.6: Percentage of purchase locations for vaping products and cigarettes among adults, Oregon, 2023

Usual products purchase source (among current e-cig users)	(%)
Store in Oregon	92.8
Store outside of Oregon3	3.0^
Internet	2.3
Other	2.0^
Usual store type for cigarettes purchase (among current smokers)	(%)
Convenience store or gas station	59.9
Tobacco shop	22.9
Grocery store or superstore	10.4
Liquor store	3.2
Other (discount, newspaper stand)	1.4^
Drug store or pharmacy	2.2

^ indicates the estimate may be statistically unreliable and should be interpreted with caution.

-- this number is suppressed because it is statistically unreliable.

Source: Oregon Health Matters Survey, Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention section, Oregon Health Authority,

Figure 7.3 Rate of tobacco sales to underage people by product type, Oregon, 2017-2023

* Inspections were stopped in March 2020 through 2021 because of COVID-19. In addition, the peak of the outbreak of e-cigarette, or vaping, product use-associated lung injury (EVALI) occurred in September of 2019, which is included in the 2020 data collection period. Because of these issues, retail violation rates may not be representative of a normal year.
Source: Oregon Tobacco Retail Database, 2017-2020. Oregon Tobacco Retail License Database, 2022-2023.

Note: From 2017 to 2020, years follow the state fiscal year, with inspections generally starting in September of the prior year and continue through June of the published year. Beginning in 2022, years follow the calendar year. Violation rates are based on a representative sample of inspections.

Table 7.7 Rate of tobacco sales to underage people by Oregon county, 2023

	Retailer violation rate (RVR), Percent (%)
	Overall RVR	Cigarettes	Cigarillos / Small cigars	E-cigarettes	Other
Baker	21.1	8.3	50.0	40.0	-
Benton	10.0	12.5	-	0.0	-
Clackamas	19.1	17.8	15.2	25.9	100.0
Clatsop	16.7	16.7	0.0	20.0	-
Columbia	26.8	30.8	25.0	-	-
Coos	22.8	25.9	16.7	25.0	-
Crook	33.3	38.5	0.0	33.3	-
Curry	29.0	36.8	0.0	28.6	-
Deschutes	36.7	43.1	33.3	32.1	-
Douglas	26.4	21.2	25.0	33.3	-
Gilliam	50.0	50.0	0.0	100.0	-
Grant	13.3	33.3	0.0	0.0	-
Harney	37.5	44.4	25.0	33.3	-
Hood River	12.5	9.1	22.2	0.0	-
Jackson	19.6	23.8	13.5	18.3	-
Jefferson	30.4	33.3	42.9	14.3	-
Josephine	29.7	28.9	24.1	35.3	-
Klamath	13.0	10.5	100.0	0.0	-
Lake	21.4	25.0	33.3	0.0	-
Lane	23.2	22.4	22.4	20.3	45.5
Lincoln	23.0	21.2	8.3	37.5	-
Linn	21.4	23.1	21.6	19.5	-
Malheur	20.0	15.4	0.0	37.5	-
Marion	17.2	16.9	14.5	18.8	100.0
Morrow	21.4	20.0	14.3	50.0	-
Multnomah	15.6	17.3	22.2	5.7	0.0
Polk	21.7	28.0	12.5	20.0	-
Sherman	30.0	50.0	33.3	0.0	-
Tillamook	12.5	17.6	11.1	0.0	-
Umatilla	30.8	31.4	11.8	42.3	-
Union	26.9	50.0	14.3	0.0	-
Wallowa	60.0	66.7	66.7	0.0	-
Wasco	39.4	50.0	30.0	33.3	-
Washington	18.2	18.4	16.3	33.3	0.0
Wheeler	66.7	66.7	-	-	-
Yamhill	30.1	37.2	16.0	33.3	-

Source: Oregon Tobacco Retail License Database, 2022-2023.

Note: Violation rates are based on all tobacco retailers inspected in OHA’s jurisdiction. Benton, Clatsop, Klamath, and Multnomah are based on a random sample.

Table 7.8 Rate of tobacco sales to underage people by store type, Oregon, 2022-2023

	2022	2023 )
Store type	Retailer violation rate (RVR), Percent (%)
Bar/Restaurant	68.8	6.7
Certified Smoke Shop/Cigar Bar	100.0	50.0
Department store	13.3	12.3
Drug store	0.0	4.3
Grocery store/Market	33.8	22.5
Liquor store	33.3	14.3
Mini mart	18.5	24.7
Mini mart with gas	30.0	18.8
Tobacco shop	28.6	26.3
Vape shop	44.4	33.3
Other/Unknown	27.7	26.7

Source: Oregon Tobacco Retail License Database, 2022-2023.

Note: Violation rates are based on a representative sample of inspections.

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Citations

Federal Trade Commission. Federal Trade Commission cigarette report for 2020. Issued 2021. Available at https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/reports/federal-trade-commission-cigarette-report-2020-smokeless-tobacco-report-2020/p114508fy20cigarettereport.pdf. Accessed 2022 August 12.

Federal Trade Commission. Federal Trade Commission smokeless tobacco report for 2020. Issued 2021. Available at https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/reports/federal-trade-commission-cigarette-report-2020-smokeless-tobacco-report-2020/p114508fy20smokelesstobacco.pdf. Accessed 2021 August 12.

CounterTobacco.org. Spending at the point of sale: Federal Trade Commission Reports. Available at: https://countertobacco.org/the-war-in-the-store/#ftcreports. Accessed 2022 July 10.

Federal Trade Commission. Federal Trade Commission E-Cigarette Report for 2015-2018. Issued 2022. Available at https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/E-Cigarette-Report-2015-2018.pdf. Accessed 2022 March 30.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Service Public Health Service Office of the Surgeon General. The health consequences of smoking—50 years of progress: A report of the surgeon general, 2014. Available at https://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/reports/50-years-of-progress/full-report.pdf. Accessed 2016 Oct 21.

Oregon Health Authority. Public Health Division. Oregon Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention section. Oregon Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Unpublished data.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Preventing tobacco use among youth and young adults: A report of the Surgeon General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health, 2012.

Health and Human Services (HHS). Preventing tobacco use among youth and young adults: A report of the surgeon general, 2012. Available at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK99237/. Accessed 2024 Nov 22. See also, Hegmann KT, et al. The effect of age at smoking initiation on lung cancer risk. Epidemiology 4(5):444-48, September 1993; Lando HA, et al. Age of initiation, smoking patterns, and risk in a population of working adults. Preventive Medicine 29(6 Pt 1):590–98, December 1999.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Preventing tobacco use among young people: A report of the surgeon general, 1994.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2012). Preventing tobacco use among youth and adults: a report of the surgeon general. Page 2. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK99237/.

Burrows, D. (1984). Strategic research report: Young adult smokers-strategies and opportunities. Legacy Tobacco Documents Library. RJ Reynolds. Bates No: 508783540. Available at: http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/swx83d00/pdf.

Myers ML. New study finds over 40 percent of youth smokers use flavored little cigars or cigarettes, shows need for FDA to regulate all tobacco products. Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. Oct. 22, 2013.

Schaefer J, Coos H. Honoring the sacred: know the difference between traditional and commercial tobacco. Healthy Native Youth. Available at https://www.healthynativeyouth.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Traditional-Tobacco-Brochure.pdf.

Achieving Health Equity in Tobacco Control. December 2015. Available at: https://truthinitiative.org/sites/default/files/media/files/2019/03/Achieving%20Health%20Equity%20in%20Tabacco%20Control%20-%20Version%201.pdf.

Office on Smoking and Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/programs/index.html.

Discrimination in America: Summary Report. (2018) National Public Radio, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Available at https://www.rwjf.org/content/dam/farm/reports/surveys_and_polls/2018/rwjf443620.

Tan, A., Young-Wolff, K. C., Carter-Harris, L., Salloum, R. G., & Banerjee, S. C. (2018). Disparities in the Receipt of Tobacco Treatment Counseling within the US Context of the Affordable Care Act and Meaningful Use Implementation. Nicotine & tobacco research: official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, 20(12), 1474–1480. https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntx233.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). American Indians/Alaska Natives and Tobacco Use. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/groups/american-indian-alaska-native.html. Accessed 2020 July 10.

American Cancer Society, Cancer Action Network. (n.d.) Manipulating a sacred tradition: an investigation of commercial tobacco marketing & sales strategies on the Navajo nation and other native tribes. Available at: http://action.fightcancer.org/site/DocServer/Industry_Influence-_Indi- an_Lands-_Indian_Gaming.pdf ?docID=8902.

Tobacco Free Kids. Broken promises to our children, a state-by-state look at the 1998 state tobacco settlement 16 years later. December 2014. Available at: http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/content/what_we_do/state_local_issues/settlement/FY2015/2014_12_11_brokenpromises_report.pdf. Accessed 2016 Oct 21.

CounterTobacco.org. Spending at the point of sale: Federal Trade Commission Reports. Available at: https://countertobacco.org/the-war-in-the-store/#ftcreports. Accessed 2020 July 10.

Feighery EC, Ribisl KM, Clark PI, Haladjian HH. How tobacco companies ensure prime placement of their advertising and products in stores: interviews with retailers about tobacco company incentive programmes. Tobacco Control 2003; 12:184–188.

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Oregon Tobacco Facts

About Oregon Tobacco Facts

Oregon Tobacco Facts Table of Contents

Section 1: Executive summary

Section 2: Health and economic burden of tobacco

Table 2.2 Tobacco-related death rates per 100,000 population by county, Oregon

Table 2.3 Estimated costs of tobacco-related medical treatment and lost productivity (in millions of dollars), Oregon, 2021

Section 3: Tobacco-related diseases

Table 3.1 Percentage of adults with chronic diseases who smoke cigarettes, Oregon, 2021

Table 3.2 Rate of lung and bronchus cancer diagnoses and death per 100,000 population by county, Oregon, 2016–2020

Section 4: Adult cigarette smoking

Table 4.1: Per capita cigarette pack sales, Oregon and the United States, 1993−2023

Figure 4.1: Per capita cigarette pack sales, Oregon and the United States, 1993−2023

Table 4.2. Percentage of adult cigarette smoking by sex and total, Oregon, 1996–2021

Table 4.3: Percentage of adult tobacco use, by product type, Oregon, 2014-2021

Table 4.4 Percentage of adult tobacco use by age and sex, Oregon, 2021

Figure 4.2 Percentage of adult cigarette smoking, by county, Oregon, 2018-2021

Table 4.5 Percentage of adult cigarette smoking, by county, Oregon, 2018-2021

Table 4.6 Percentage of adult smokers by quit status and county, Oregon, 2018–2021

Table 4.7 Percentage of births to mothers who smoke cigarettes during pregnancy, Oregon and the United States, 1993–2021

Figure 4.3 Percentage of births to mothers who smoke cigarettes during pregnancy by county, Oregon, 2019–2021

Table 4.8 Percentage of births to mothers who smoke cigarettes during pregnancy by county, Oregon, 2019–2021

Section 5: Youth tobacco use

Table 5.1 Percentage of youth cigarette smoking and e-cigarette use, Oregon, 1996–2022

Figure 5.1 Percentage of youth cigarette smoking and e-cigarette use, Oregon, 1996–2022

Table 5.2 Percentage of youth exposed to tobacco, Oregon, 2019

Table 5.3 Percentage of youth tobacco use by product type, Oregon, 2022

Table 5.4 Percentage of youth tobacco product type use by grade and county, Oregon, 2022

Figure 5.2 Percentage of first tobacco product type used among 11th graders who have ever used tobacco, Oregon, 2022

Table 5.5 Percentage and number of sources of tobacco products among youth who have ever used tobacco, Oregon, 2022

Figure 5.3 Percentage of cigarette and e-cigarettes use among Oregon youth and adults, 2022

Table 5.6 Percentage of current tobacco product use by type and selected age groups, Oregon, 2021-2022

Figure 5.4 Percentage of flavored tobacco or vaping product use among current tobacco users by selected age groups, Oregon, 2022

Section 6: Tobacco Marketing and Its Effect in Communities

Table 6.1: Percentage of adult cigarette smoking, by select demographic groups, Oregon

Table 6.2: Percentage of adult cigarette smoking, by sexual orientation, Oregon, 2018-2021

Figure 6.1 Percentage of adult cigarette smoking by race and ethnicity, Oregon, 2018-2021

Table 6.3 Percentage of adult tobacco use(1) among Oregon Health Plan members, by race and ethnicity, Oregon, 2018-2021

Table 6.4. Percentage of adult menthol cigarette use among cigarette smokers, by race, Oregon, 2018-2021

Table 6.5. Percentage of menthol cigarette use among cigarette smokers, by age group, Oregon

Table 6.6: Percentage of adult exposure to any secondhand smoke indoors in a typical week, by demographic groups, Oregon, 2020

Section 7: Retail tobacco environment and marketing

Table 7.1 Average cigarette pack price in Oregon, Washington and California (1), 1990-2023

Figure 7.2 Average cigarette pack price in Oregon, Washington and California(1), 1990-2022

Table 7.2 Percentage of Oregon retailers with tobacco product marketing, 2018

Table 7.3 Percentage and number of Oregon retailers with tobacco product marketing by county, 2018

Table 7.4 Percentage of youths exposed to tobacco advertising, Oregon, 2022

Table 7.5 Percentage of sources of tobacco products and ease of access among youth, Oregon, 2022

Table 7.6: Percentage of purchase locations for vaping products and cigarettes among adults, Oregon, 2023

Figure 7.3 Rate of tobacco sales to underage people by product type, Oregon, 2017-2023

Table 7.7 Rate of tobacco sales to underage people by Oregon county, 2023

Table 7.8 Rate of tobacco sales to underage people by store type, Oregon, 2022-2023

Citations

Table 6.3 Percentage of adult tobacco use⁽¹⁾ among Oregon Health Plan members, by race and ethnicity, Oregon, 2018-2021