Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports (MMWRs)

State—Specific Prevalence of Current Cigarette Smoking Among Adults—United States, 2003

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In 2003, for the first time, the prevalence of cigarette smoking among adults in a state (Utah) reached the Healthy People 2010 health objective of ≤12%.
In 2003, adult current smoking prevalence varied considerably across the 50 states, the District of Columbia (DC), Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. For the states and the District of Columbia, prevalence ranged from 12% (Utah) to 30.8% (Kentucky).
Kentucky (30.8%), West Virginia (27.4%), and Missouri (27.3 %) had the highest prevalence of current smokers. Utah (12%), California (16.8%), and Hawaii (17.3%) had the lowest prevalences.
Prevalence of current smoking for the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Guam ranged from 10% to 34%. Prevalence was 10% in the Virgin Islands, 13.6% in Puerto Rico and 34% in Guam.
Kentucky had the highest prevalence for men (33.8%) and women (28.1 %). Utah had the lowest prevalence for men (14%) and women (9.9 %).
While the prevalence of cigarette smoking among U.S. adults has declined, the rate of decline is not rapid enough for the country to reach the 2010 national health objective of ≤12%.
The fact that the national objective has been met in Utah and the U.S. Virgin Islands shows that it is an attainable goal, but a significantly expanded effort in most states will be required to reach the national objective.

Page last reviewed 02/28/2007
Page last modified 02/28/2007