Local Figures



Tobacco Use in Southwest Missouri



Those who smoke cigarettes:
  • Jasper County: 31.6% (above state avg.)
  • Newton County: 19.5%
  • SW Missouri: 26.7%
  • Missouri: 26.4%
Those exposed to cigarette smoke inside their homes:
  • Jasper County: 29.7% (above state avg.)
  • Newton County: 20.5%
  • SW Missouri: 23.8%
  • Missouri: 23.6%
Those exposed to secondhand smoke inside a car:
  • Jasper County: 34.0% (above state avg.)
  • Newton County: 28.3%
  • SW Missouri: 31.5%
  • Missouri: 32.5%
Estimated number of deaths attributed to smoking (1999-2002):
  • City of Joplin: 1,253 (above state avg.)
  • Jasper County: 2,345 (above state avg.)
  • Newton County: 1,074

Tobacco-Free Business Survey Results



In the fall of 2006, 50 of the largest employers in Jasper and Newton Counties were surveyed to determine the status of their smoking policies. 45 businesses completed the policy survey. These are the results of that survey.

  • 36 (80%) Workplaces have a writtne policy to limit or prohibit smoking.
  • 31 (70%) Workplaces do not allow smoking anywhere indoors.

These are the results from the 2005 survey.
  • 37 (74%) Workplaces with a written policy to limit or prohibit smoking.
  • (16%) Workplaces without a written policy to limit or prohibit smoking.
  • 5 (10%) Workplaces that declined to participate.
Of the 37 businesses with policies, all allowed smoking on company grounds.
  • 14% Allowed smoking in the facility
  • 65% Designated an outside smoking area
  • 22% Allowed smoking in company vehicles.


Tobacco-Free Government Office Survey Results



In the fall of 2006, 48 government offices were identified and contacted about their smoking policies. These government offices included 19 city halls/county courthouses, 12 fire departments, 3 health departments, and 14 police departments in Jasper and Newton Counties. These are the results of the government offices survey:
  • 63% of all government offices have written policies limiting or prohibiting smoking
  • 90% of all government offices do not allow smoking indoors
  • 53% of City Halls/County Courthouses have written policies
  • 94% of City Halls/County Courthouses do not allow smoking indoors
  • 58% of Fire Departments have written policies
  • 67% of Fire Departments do not allow smoking indoors
  • 100% of Health Departments have written policies
  • 100% of Health Departments do not allow smoking indoors
  • 71% of Police Departments have written policies
  • 100% of Police Departments do not allow smoking indoors


Tobacco-Free School District Survey Results



In the fall of 2006, 12 public school districts in Jasper & Newton Counties were identified and contacted about their smoking policies.These are the results of the school district survey:
  • 100% of school districts have a written policy prohibiting tobacco use in school buildings
  • 73% of school districts have a written policy prohibiting tobacco use on school grounds
  • 9% of school districts have a written policy prohibiting tobacco use at school events that are not on school property
  • 90% of school districts have a written policy prohibiting tobacco use in school sports facilities
  • 64% of school districts have a written policy prohibiting tobacco advertising and sponsorship in school publications and at school events
  • 90% of school districts collect evidence of enforcement of tobacco use policy

Restaurants



294 Restaurants were surveyed in Jasper County, Newton County and the City of Joplin
  • 196 or 67% of all restaurants were smoke-free
  • 98 or 33% of restaurants allowed smoking indoors
  • Newton County had the highest prevalence of smoking restaurants at 39% (34 non-smoking, 22 smoking)
  • Jasper County had the lowest prevalence of smoking restaurants at 25% (50 non-smoking, 17 smoking)
  • The City of Joplin fell somewhere in the middle at 35% of restaurants allowing smoking (112 non-smoking, 59 smoking)


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