State-Specific Prevalence of Cigarette Smoking Among Adults and Quitting Among Persons Aged 18–35 Years—United States, 2006

In 2006, adult current smoking prevalence varied considerably across 50 states, the District of Columbia (DC), Puerto Rico (PR), and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI). For the states and the District of Columbia, prevalence ranged from 9.8% (Utah) to 28.6% (Kentucky).
Smoking prevalence was 9.1% in the USVI and 12.5% in Puerto Rico.
Kentucky (28.6%), West Virginia (25.7%), Oklahoma (25.1%), and Mississippi (25.1%) had the highest prevalence of current smokers. Smoking prevalence was lowest in Utah (9.8%), California (14.9%), and Idaho (16.8%).
Since 2003, Utah and USVI have met the target for overall adult smoking prevalence of 12% or less. California, Utah, and USVI have achieved this objective among women since 2004; and PR met the target among women for a second year in a row. In 2006, Utah met the target among men, as it had in 2004 but not in 2005.
In 2006, Utah and USVI also were the only areas to achieve this objective among persons aged 18–35 years.
The present rate of decline in current smoking rates is not fast enough for most states to achieve the Healthy People 2010 objective of 12% or less.

In 2006, the majority of current daily smokers age 18–35 years reported that they had tried to quit during the past year.
On average, approximately one third of those aged 18–35 years who had ever smoked reported that they did not currently smoke.
In 2006, the states with the highest percentages of ever smokers aged 18–35 years who had quit were Utah (47.9%) and Minnesota (43.7%).
In 2006, the median prevalence of current daily smokers aged 18–35 years who had quit for at least 1 day during the past year was 58.6% for the 50 states and DC (range: 48.0% [Nevada] to 69.2% [New Mexico]).
The proportion of current daily smokers who had quit for at least 1 day during the past year was 71.4% in PR and 53.8% in USVI.
Early cessation should be encouraged because smokers who quit as young adults have a life expectancy similar to that of never smokers.
Although quitting at any age substantially reduces risk of disease, the longer people smoke, the more likely they are to develop adverse health effects that are not completely reversible.