Prevalence of Smoking measures the percent of the population over age 18 that smokes tobacco products regularly.  The information is obtained from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and measures the percentage of the population that has smoked at least 100 cigarettes and currently smokes regularly.  

The prevalence of smoking in the population has an adverse impact on overall health by causing increased cases of respiratory diseases, heart disease, stroke, cancer and other illnesses (http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/).  It is a lifestyle behavior that an individual can directly influence.

Table 21 displays the 2007 ranks, based on 2006 data (Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).  The national average is 20.1 percent of the population, a decrease of 0.5 percent from the rate last year. This means that about 45 million American adults smoke on a regular basis. The proportion of the population that smokes varies from a low of 9.8 percent in Utah to more than 25 percent in Kentucky, West Virginia, Oklahoma and Mississippi.  The prevalence of smoking decreased by 2.5 percent or more in Tennessee, Indiana and Nebraska.  It increased by more than 2.0 percent in Kansas.  If all states were to accomplish a smoking rate equal to the best state (Utah), there would be 20 million less smokers in the U.S.

Since the 1990 Edition, the prevalence of smoking decreased in the United States by 9.4 percent.  Rhode Island, Nevada and Virginia each lowered the prevalence of smoking since 1990 by 13 percent or more.  Every state experienced a decrease since the 1990 Edition.  Utah had the smallest decrease in percentage of the population but still retains its position as the state with the least smokers.  Due to the limits of the BRFSS, caution must be used in comparing changes in prevalence of smoking in states with small populations.
 

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