A letter to the editor from Howard County Tobacco and Vape Free
Everyone deserves the opportunity to be as healthy as possible, regardless of disability status. Yet, tobacco use continues to disproportionately affect Hoosiers living with disabilities.
According to the Indiana Department of Health, 31 percent of Indiana adults report having a mental, physical, or emotional disability. About 20.3 percent of Indiana adults with disabilities currently smoke cigarettes, compared with 10.9 percent of adults without disabilities—nearly twice the rate.
E-cigarette use also shows a disparity. In 2024, 11.2 percent of Indiana adults with disabilities used e-cigarettes, compared with 8.2 percent of adults without a disability.
But there is another important part of this story: people with disabilities want to quit. More than half (53.7 percent) of Indiana adults with a disability who currently smoke reported trying to quit at least once during the past year.
Unfortunately, barriers such as transportation, healthcare costs, inaccessible facilities and equipment, and communication challenges can make accessing tobacco treatment more difficult.
Everyone who wants to quit tobacco or nicotine should have access to support that meets their needs. Healthcare providers can help by asking all patients about tobacco use, providing tailored treatment, communicating in accessible and understandable ways, and connecting patients with cessation resources.
Quit Now Indiana provides free tobacco cessation services to Hoosiers and offers accessibility features for people with disabilities. Those ready to quit can call 1-800-QUIT-NOW or visit QuitNowIndiana.com. A TTY telecommunications line is also available for people who are deaf or hard of hearing at 1-877-777-6534.
By making tobacco treatment more accessible and inclusive, we can help more Hoosiers achieve their goals and build a healthier community for everyone.