CDC BRFSS Data Analysis: Tobacco Use in California (2016)

a. How does this compare to previous years?

According to the CDC BRFSS data, the percentage of Californian adults who smoked everyday steadily decreased from 2011 (8.6%) to 2016 (7.9%), indicating a continuous downward trend in daily smoking prevalence (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d.).

Reference: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). BRFSS Prevalence and Trends Data. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/brfss/brfssprevalence/index.html

b. Now, you explore this data set by selecting a different category, different state or different years.

Let’s explore the trend for Heavy Drinking in Massachusetts from 2011 to 2016.

Data Accessed:

• State: Massachusetts
• Year: 2016 (and then “View Trend Data” for previous years)
• Category: Alcohol Consumption
• Question: Heavy Drinking (Adults aged 18+ who have had more than 2 drinks per day on average for men, or more than 1 drink per day on average for women)

Trend Explanation:

In Massachusetts, the percentage of adults engaging in heavy drinking showed a slight fluctuation but generally remained stable or saw a minor decrease from 2011 (6.2%) to 2016 (5.8%) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d.).

This exercise highlights how the BRFSS data allows for quick identification of behavioral trends, which is crucial for public health planning and intervention development. For instance, while California showed a consistent decline in daily smoking, Massachusetts’ heavy drinking rates remained relatively stagnant over the same period, suggesting different dynamics or the need for targeted interventions in that specific area.