What are the possible causes of higher lung cancer incidence and death rates in certain regions?
State variation in smoking prevalence is a prominent factor. Smoking prevalence is influenced by several factors, including public awareness about the harmful health effects of tobacco use, social norms about tobacco use, educational levels, race and ethnicity, tobacco control activities, and industry promotion activities. Previous research has shown that comprehensive tobacco control programs, including the use of excise taxes, can achieve substantial reductions in tobacco use. California, which was the first state in the U.S. to implement a comprehensive state-wide tobacco control program, has made the greatest progress in reducing tobacco use, while many states in the South and Midwest continue to have a high prevalence of smoking and low excise taxes. • What percentage of cancer deaths is attributable to smoking? According to the U.S. Surgeon General, cigarette smoking accounts for approximately 30 percent of all cancer deaths in the United States, with 80 percent of smoking-relate
