Oklahoma tied for third highest rate of smokers

by: Associated Press
9/28/2007  4:17 PM

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A new study shows Oklahoma is tied for the third highest smoking rate in the United States.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says one-fourth of the residents of both Oklahoma and Mississippi were smokers in 2006.

Kentucky had the highest rate with 28.6 percent of adults who smoke.

The lowest rate is in Utah where just under 10 percent of the population smokes.

Doug Matheny with the state Health Department says tobacco sales fell by 14 percent from 2004 to 2006. He says the drop is due to higher taxes on tobacco that went into effect Jan. 1, 2005.

Associate Images:

One-fourth of Oklahoma residents were smokers in 2006