You’ve likely seen reports that the overall U.S. smoking rate has significantly declined in the past 2 decades.
But that statement alone doesn’t tell the whole story.
In many communities—where employees live and work—tobacco use remains high.
In fact, smoking prevalence is nearly 50% higher in a group of Midwestern and Southern states compared to the rest of the country, according to Truth Initiative’s latest analysis.
In 12 states—a region referred to as “Tobacco Nation” that spans Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and West Virginia—both adults and young adults have a 50% higher smoking prevalence.
This finding has enormous financial and health implications for employers and employees in those areas.
Employers in these 12 states can take critical steps to reduce smoking among employees, but to do so requires new thinking.
The traditional approach to tobacco cessation—such as sourcing a check-the-box program that employees don’t use—no longer suffices.
See how employers in these 12 states can more successfully engage tobacco users in quitting.
Download this content to see:
- How high smoking rates are in Tobacco Nation vs. the rest of the U.S. population
- Impact of Tobacco Nation on employee mental and physical health
- Why smoke-free workplaces are less common in Tobacco Nation states
For more information on how disparities affect tobacco use among your employees, visit:
