Maine Public Health Association Voter Poll – Public Health Issues Prepared for: Prepared by: Funded by: April 2019
Disclosure No Relationships to Disclose. Dewberry 2 NY / NJ Metro Brand Perceptions Research
Background and Purpose • MPHA is a statewide non-profit organization that seeks to improve the health and well-being of Maine people through disease prevention, health promotion, and the advancement of health equity. • Commissioned market research (Critical Insights) in the form of a public opinion poll to explore attitudes about tobacco- related issues. • Funding was provided by Maine Cancer Foundation. MPHA 3 Voter Poll – Public Health Issues
Method and Approach • Online poll using Critical Insights’ secure data collection portal • Questionnaire developed with MPHA and other project stakeholders. • Double opt-in consumer panel encompassing the entire State of Maine in proportion to the population distribution of the state – The state was sampled by county population in proportion to the most recent election turnout (data from the Office of the Secretary of State). • Eligibility: Registered Maine voter, age 18 or older • Approximately 15 minutes to complete • N = 450 voters; poll ran 4/4-4/15/2019 – The sample of 450 voters offers a sampling error of +/- 4.7 percentage points, at 95% confidence. MPHA 4 Voter Poll – Public Health Issues
Participant Profile 5
Poll Participant Profile - Region / Area of Residence In what Maine county do you live? Which of the following best describes the area where you live? Large city or urban area Small city 2% 21% Small town Suburban area 28% 18% Rural area 31% MPHA 6 Voter Poll – Public Health Issues
Poll Participant Profile - Stated Political Leanings Which of the following best describes your political view? Moderate Conservative 45% 21% Extremely conservative 8% Liberal 18% Extremely liberal 8% MPHA 7 Voter Poll – Public Health Issues
Poll Participant Profile - Demographic / Household Profile For classification purposes only, What is your current age? how many individuals under the age of 18 live in your household? 3+ 6% 65+ 18-24 Two 11% 11% 13% 55-64 25-34 15% 22% One None 17% 64% 45-54 18% 35-44 23% MPHA 8 Voter Poll – Public Health Issues
Poll Participant Profile – Education / Household Income Profile What is the last grade of school you Into which of the following categories does your completed? annual household income, before taxes, fall? Prefer Post not to graduate respond work 11% 3% 100,000+ 13% <$35k High $75- 33% school or 99,999 less 27% 12% Completed college 29% $50- Less than $35- 74,999 college 49,999 19% degree 21% 34% MPHA 9 Voter Poll – Public Health Issues
Tobacco Product Usage Profile Below are several types of tobacco products. Using the options provided, please choose the response that best describes your personal use of these products. Never used Formerly used, but no longer do Occasionally use Regularly use 44% 27% Cigarettes 5% 23% Use of e-cigs 66% E-cigarettes, Juuls, or vaping higher among 14% 12% products those <35 years 6% (25%) 67% 18% Cigars or pipe tobacco 11% 4% 85% 7% Chewing or spit tobacco 5% 2% MPHA 10 Voter Poll – Public Health Issues
Perceptions of Addiction, Among Current Users Below are several types of tobacco products you indicated using either regularly or occasionally. For each, please indicate if you believe you are currently addicted to the product. Sample sizes: cigarettes (n=116), e-cigarettes (n=32), cigars/pipe tobacco (n=16), and chewing/spit tobacco (n=17). Cigarettes 89% Electronic cigarettes, sometimes called e-cigarettes, Juuls, or vaping 37% products Cigars or pipe tobacco 23% Chewing or spit tobacco 54% MPHA 11 Voter Poll – Public Health Issues
Views on Tobacco Use in Maine 12
Level of Concern About Tobacco-Related Issues Please tell us how concerned you are about the following issues in the state of Maine. More Concerned Less concerned (responses of 4 and 5) (responses of 1 and 2) The use of flavors - like candy, fruit and menthol - to make tobacco products more appealing to 71% 14% Maine youth The use of e-cigarettes, Juuls, and other vaping 66% 16% products among Maine youth Tobacco use and nicotine addiction among Maine 65% 13% youth and adults Tobacco use and nicotine addiction increasing the 51% 29% risk of addiction to other substances MPHA 13 Voter Poll – Public Health Issues
Importance of Youth Tobacco Use Prevention How important do you believe it is to prevent Maine youth from using tobacco product, such as cigarettes, chewing or spit tobacco, cigars or pipe tobacco, and electronic cigarettes (sometimes called e-cigarettes, Juuls, or vaping products)? More important (responses of 4 and 5) Less important (responses of 1 and 2) Stated Importance 85% 6% MPHA 14 Voter Poll – Public Health Issues
Perceived Influence of E-Cigarettes Based on what you know or have heard, how much of a role do you believe e-cigarettes, Juuls, and other vaping products play in: Plays more of a role Plays less of a role (responses of 4 and 5) (responses of 1 and 2) Increasing nicotine addiction among youth and 73% 9% young adults Helping cigarette smokers to quit smoking 29% 43% MPHA 15 Voter Poll – Public Health Issues
Views on Tobacco Policy and Use of Settlement Funds in Maine 16
Views on Tobacco Prohibitions and Restrictions Please tell us your level of opposition or support for the following policies: Total Strongly support Somewhat support Support Maintaining current Maine law, which restricts smoking and using e-cigarettes, Juuls, or other 62% 19% 81% vaping products in public places, including outdoor eating areas Maintaining current Maine law, which restricts the sale of food or drink in tobacco specialty 50% 20% 70% stores where smoking is allowed Prohibiting the sale of all flavored tobacco products (including cigars, e-cigarettes, Juuls, 68% 46% 22% and other vaping products) in order to prevent use of tobacco products by youth in Maine MPHA 17 Voter Poll – Public Health Issues
Views on Use of Tobacco Settlement Funds for Youth Prevention / Adult Cessation How important do you believe it is that Maine use tobacco settlement funds to prevent young people from starting to smoke and to help current tobacco users to quit? More important Less important (responses of 4 and 5) (responses of 1 and 2) Importance 91% 10% MPHA 18 Voter Poll – Public Health Issues
Views on Lawmakers and Tobacco-Related Tax Policy and Settlement Funds 19
Preferences for Lawmakers’ Approach to Use of Settlement Funds Which one of the following statements best matches your feelings about how lawmakers should use these settlement funds? Don't know/Not sure The tobacco settlement funds Lawmakers should honor 6% should not be dedicated to their original intent and use any specific program on Maine's tobacco settlement purpose. Lawmakers should funds primarily to prevent have the ability to direct these chronic diseases - including funds to any purpose they … tobacco related illnesses - and promote good health among Maine people. 71% Most of the Maine's tobacco settlement funds should be used to pay for medical care 11% MPHA 20 Voter Poll – Public Health Issues
To view the full results – please visit: www.mainepublichealth.org/act/coalition- partners/tobacco/ Thank You! 21
Views on Tobacco-Related Tax Policy in Maine 22
Views on Tobacco-Related Tax Policy: Standardizing Tax on E-Cigarettes Please tell us if you would oppose or support taxing e-cigarettes if you knew that… Total Strongly support Somewhat support Support The additional tax revenue would be used to prevent youth from starting to smoke or 75% 52% 23% use other tobacco products, such as a-cigarettes, Juuls, or other vaping products The additional tax revenue would be used to prevent illness and improve overall health 48% 27% 75% 47% 26% 73% The additional tax revenue would be used to help current smokers quit using tobacco The additional tax revenue would be used to help more Maine people afford health 45% 25% 70% insurance coverage The additional tax revenue would be used to pay for opiate addiction treatment and 44% 24% 68% recovery programs One of the most effective ways to prevent youth from starting to smoke is to 44% 20% 64% significantly raise the price of tobacco products 70% 42% 28% The additional tax revenue would be used to build a healthier workforce 61% Electronic cigarettes are not a proven way to quit smoking 41% 20% The additional tax revenue would be used to create more economic opportunity in 70% 39% 31% Maine Lower income smokers have a higher lung cancer risk than those with higher incomes, 64% 37% 27% and the increased price on tobacco products could encourage them to quit. People with lower incomes will feel the financial impact of a tax increase more than 61% 37% 24% those with higher incomes Ten response options were provided; these are the six with strongest support. MPHA 23 Voter Poll – Public Health Issues
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