State-Specific Prevalence of Tobacco Product Use among Adults

Summary

What is already known about this topic?

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable morbidity and mortality in the United States. Despite recent declines in cigarette smoking prevalence, the tobacco product landscape has shifted to include emerging tobacco products, such as electronic cigarettes and water pipes.

What is added by this report?

Analysis of data from the 2014–2015 Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey found that the prevalence of ever-use of any tobacco product ranged from 27.0% (Utah) to 55.4% (Wyoming). Current (every day or some days) use of any tobacco product ranged from 10.2% (California) to 27.7% (Wyoming). Cigarettes were the most common currently used tobacco product. Among current cigarette smokers, the proportion who currently used ≥1 other tobacco products ranged from 11.5% (Delaware) to 32.3% (Oregon). Eight of the 10 states with the lowest prevalence of current use of any tobacco product have implemented policies that prohibit smoking in all indoor areas of workplaces, bars, and restaurants; seven of the 10 states with the highest prevalence have no such comprehensive smoke-free laws.

What are the implications for public health practice?

Differences in tobacco product use across states underscore the importance of implementing comprehensive tobacco control and prevention interventions to reduce tobacco use and tobacco-related disparities, including comprehensive smoke-free policies, tobacco product price increases, anti-tobacco mass media campaigns, and barrier-free access to clinical smoking cessation resources.