U.S. States with the Highest Rate of Female Smokers

Not Surprising if You Know a Bit of History

Tobacco has a very powerful history in the US, especially in Kentucky and West Virginia. It was the cash crop that, in the early 1600’s, made English plantation owners, such as John Rolfe (husband of Pocahontas), in the Virginias and Carolinas, wealthy enough to begin importing black slaves.

In the 21st century, tobacco companies still wield a lot of power in many states, such as West Virginia and Kentucky, which is why those two have the highest rates of smokers in general and among women in particular.

Tobacco companies spend about $25 million a day advertising tobacco products. While there are people who want to quit smoking, less than two million dollars a year to fund anti-smoking initiatives in both Kentucky and West Virginia cannot compete with an industry that’s worth north of $800 billion and can shell out over $1 million an hour to advertise their products.

The result is people continuing to die from smoking-related illnesses and a rise in young smokers, who are developing health issues early from both tobacco and other tobacco products, including e-cigarettes.

This is a subject I’ll definitely be expounding on in another post, but for now, I think this is an interesting stat.