While state smoking rates continue to decline, Cowlitz County’s historically high actually increased in 2008 — likely due to high unemployment rates and stress about the national economy, officials said.

In 2008, 24.4 percent of Cowlitz County adults smoked, compared to 15.3 percent statewide, according to statistics released Wednesday. That’s the highest local rate since 26 percent in 2004.

Local health officials attributed at least part of the increase to the faltering economy and rising unemployment.

“In our county we do have high rates of unemployment, poverty and lower education levels, and we’ve found a direct correlation between that and high tobacco rates,” said Janis Housden, spokeswoman for the Cowlitz County Health Department.

Statewide the story is the same. The smoking rate for those with low incomes is 30 percent, compared to 10 percent for more affluent residents.

“People often smoke because it seems like their only break from many of life’s challenges,” said state Secretary of Health Mary Selecky.

Overall, Cowlitz County had the seventh worst smoking rate in the state, behind Stevens, Pacific, Grays Harbor, Mason, Garfield and Ferry counties. From 2006-2008, Cowlitz County has the state’s fifth worst rate.

The county has had higher-than-average smoking rates across the board for several years, including adult, teenager and pregnant women who smoke. Officials had been encouraged to see slight decreases in recent years, so the 2008 numbers are doubly concerning.

“We are disappointed in the statistics,” Housden said. “But we’ll continue moving forward as a community to lower our rates.”

There are some encouraging notes, Housden said.

After a cigarette tax increase in April, local calls to the “Quit Line” increased 205 percent.

“We’re looking forward as a result of the higher taxes to see the numbers lower for 2009,” she said.

Also, cultural norms and acceptance seem to be changing in the area, but cultural shifts take time, Housden said.

News is much more encouraging statewide.

Washington has the sixth lowest smoking rate in the country and has seen the adult smoking rates decrease 30 percent since 1999. State officials estimate the overall decrease has prevented 98,000 early deaths due to tobacco and has saved $2.8 billion in future health costs.

The state is focusing more attention to lower income smokers, including redesigning the www.Quitline.com Web site and increasing smoking cessation outreach through assistance programs such as WIC and Head Start.

For information and help quitting smoking, visit the new Web site or call the state Quit Line at 1-800-QUIT-NOW or 1-877-2NO-FUME in Spanish.