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Ohio among top 10 states with most frequent cigarette smokers in the nation

By Kelcey Norris Mahoning Matters

February 12, 2024 5:07 PM

A person smokes a cigarette close-up — Star file photo

Across the country, quitting smoking is a common turn-of-the-year resolution.

Ohioans are among the top ten states with the most frequent cigarette smokers, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and America’s Health Rankings.

Vape manufacturer YoCan used this data from the CDC and America’s Health Rankings to make a list of top tobacco-using states.

More specifically, they looked at which states had the highest percentage of adults who reported “smoking at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime and who currently smoke daily or some days.”

U.S. states with the most smokers

According to America’s Health Rankings, at least 14% percent of adults in the country reported smoking this many cigarettes and being a frequent smoker.

Ohio is listed in sixth on the list compiled by YoCan of the states with the most smokers.

In Ohio, 16.6% of adults reported being “consistent smokers.”

Of this group, 17% were between ages 18 and 44, while 21% were between 45 and 64, and 11% between ages 65 and over.

West Virginia has the highest percentage of consistent smokers in the country, with over 20% adults reported smoking daily. The group of most common smokers in West Virginia was split between the two ages groups: 18 to 44 and 45 to 64.

“The overall trend here is that adults aged 45-64 smoke more consistently than younger or older generations,” said Louis Lou, a spokesperson for YoCan. “This could be for several reasons, for example, health concerns for older generations, and then alternatives to smoking like e-cigarettes and vaping being readily available to younger generations.”

Here’s the top ten list of states with highest percentage of smokers:

1. West Virginia

2. Arkansas

3. Tennessee

4. Kentucky

5. Mississippi

6. Ohio

7. Louisiana

8. Missouri

9. Indiana

10. Oklahoma

“In terms of location, the trend here is that smoking is most common in the south of the U.S., with all except Ohio and Missouri being considered to be southern,” said Lou.