Good news for the general health of residents in the Land of Lincoln: Illinois has been listed as one of 10 states in America that have the lowest smoking rates among adults.
Through powerful educational campaigns and local anti-smoking laws committed to lowering the state’s tobacco use, the state has successfully provided resources and promoted initiatives encouraging residents to adopt a healthy lifestyle.
The state’s efforts are a driving force in reducing the deaths of lung cancer caused by smoking in the United States. But which states have helped shrink this gap the most and where does Illinois rank among them?
To answer this question, IllinoisBet.com took a break from covering Illinois sports betting apps to research tobacco use in each state. Using data from the CDC’s 2021 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System CDC – 2021 BRFSS Survey Data and Documentation, we ranked the states based on their percentage of adults who reported “smoking at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime and currently smoke daily or some days.”
Here are the results, from the state with the lowest concentration of adult smokers to the highest.
On average, 15.5% of adults nationwide report smoking at least somewhat regularly. According to the CDC data, Illinois is tied with Colorado and New York for ninth place, at 12%, among states with the lowest percentage of adult smokers.
According to Truth Initiative, a nonprofit organization committed to eliminating tobacco and nicotine usage, Illinois has comprehensive tobacco laws restricting smoking.
The ban covers all government buildings, private workplaces, schools, childcare facilities, restaurants, bars, casinos/gaming establishments (including Illinois sportsbooks), retail stores, and recreational/cultural facilities. The state has implemented one of the strictest clean indoor air ordinances in the country.
Illinois also has one of the most expensive tobacco taxes at $2.98, compared to the national average which is $1.91.
Illinois also prioritizes focusing on the state’s young people and curbing their addiction to e-cigarettes. The state’s youth access laws are aggressive by prohibiting underage users from purchasing alternative nicotine products and banning the distribution of vapes and e-cigs. In addition, self-service displays of e-cigarettes are only permitted inside adult-only smoke shops.
In celebration of “World No Tobacco Day”, Illinois has a right to claim as one of the strongest contributors against adult smoking.
For the most up-to-date information on sports betting in the state including the best Illinois sportsbook promo codes, stay with IllinoisBet.com.
Author
Felix Veletanga is an experienced reporter who has covered local news, politics, and sports in Northern New Jersey, and now lends his expertise to the Illinois sports betting market. He previously covered the Saint Peter’s men’s basketball team’s 2022 NCAA Cinderella run for HudPost. Felix specializes in combat fighting and soccer betting analysis with a focus on the Premier League.
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