Fewer Wash. adults smoking tobacco

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By Associated Press

Summary

Slightly fewer adults are smoking tobacco in Washington, and the state continues to have the fifth-lowest smoking rate in the country.

Story Published: Aug 1, 2007 at 11:14 AM PST

Fewer Wash. adults smoking tobacco
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - Slightly fewer adults are smoking tobacco in Washington, and the state continues to have the fifth-lowest smoking rate in the country.

The state Department of Health says the adult smoking rate has dropped from 17.6 percent in 2005 to 17 percent last year.

State officials say that continues a trend of less smoking since 2000. There are about 235,000 fewer smokers since then, with estimated health cost savings of about $2 billion.

The Health Department says tobacco-related diseases kill about 8,000 Washingtonians each year.