Tobacco use in Arkansas 2023

• In 2022, 18.7% of adults in Arkansas smoked. Nationally, adult smoking prevalence was 14.0%¹
• In 2021, 4.9% of high school students in Arkansas smoked cigarettes on at least one day in the past 30 days. Nationally, smoking prevalence among high school students was 3.8%.²

• In 2022, 10.4% of adults in Arkansas used e-cigarettes. Nationally, adult e-cigarette use prevalence was 7.7%¹
• In 2021, 6.3% used smokeless tobacco, every day or some days. Nationally, adult smokeless tobacco use prevalence was 3.4%¹
• In 2021, 19.6% of high school students in Arkansas used electronic vapor products on at least one day in the past 30 days. Nationally, e-cigarette use prevalence among high school students was 18.0%.²
• In 2021, 4.5% of high school students in Arkansas used chewing tobacco, snuff or dip on at least one day in the past 30 days. Nationally, smokeless tobacco use prevalence among high school students was 2.5%.²
• In 2021, 5.1% of high school students in Arkansas smoked cigars, cigarillos or little cigars on at least one day in the past 30 days. Nationally, cigar use prevalence among high school students was 3.1%.²

• Arkansas received $281.3 million (estimated) in revenue from tobacco settlement payments and taxes in fiscal year 2022.⁴
• Of this, the state allocated $9.0 million in state funds to tobacco prevention in fiscal year 2023, 24.5.% of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s annual spending target.⁴
• Smoking-related health care costs: $1.41 billion per year.⁴
• Smoking-related losses in productivity: $3.7 billion per year.⁵

Tobacco taxes

• Arkansas is ranked 36th in the U.S. for its cigarette tax of $1.15 per pack (enacted March 2009), compared with the national average of $1.93. (New York has the highest tax at $5.35 and Missouri has the lowest at 17 cents.) ^6-8
• All other tobacco products are taxed at 68% of the manufacturer’s list price.⁶

Clean indoor air ordinances

• Smoking is prohibited in all government and private workplaces (nonpublic workplaces with three or fewer employees are exempt), schools, childcare facilities, retail stores and recreational/cultural facilities.⁷
• Smoking is restricted in restaurants, bars and casinos/gaming establishments (smoking is allowed in restaurants and bars that do not allow persons under 21 to enter at any time).⁷
• The use of e-cigarettes is prohibited on school grounds, at off-campus school-sponsored events, at child care facilities, in school or childcare vehicles, in healthcare facilities, on each campus of state higher education institutions, and within 25 feet of state park buildings. Visitors to community correctional facilities are prohibited from bringing vapor products. Use of e-cigarettes and vaping are prohibited in foster homes in the presence of the foster child⁹

Licensing laws

• Retailers and wholesalers are required to obtain a license to sell tobacco products.⁶
• Retailers and wholesalers are required to obtain a license to sell e-cigarette products.⁹

Youth access laws

• In December 2019, the United States adopted a law raising the federal minimum age of sale of all tobacco products to 21, effective immediately.
• Establishments are required to post signs stating that sales to minors are prohibited.⁶
• Only sales clerks can access tobacco products prior to their sale.⁶
• Minors are prohibited from buying e-cigarettes or other nicotine products.⁶
• Distribution of free samples of vapor products, e-liquids or components, or coupons for free samples thereof near youth-centered places or to persons under age 21, is prohibited, unless the person is active-duty military or has attained the age of 19 years as of December 31, 2019.⁹

• The CDC estimates 49.8% of daily adult smokers in Arkansas quit smoking for one or more days in 2019.³
• In 2014, the Affordable Care Act required that Medicaid programs cover all quit medications. However, there is not enough evidence that the Arkansas Medicaid program has complied with this requirement regarding NRT nasal spray, NRT lozenge and NRT inhaler.⁷**
• Arkansas’ state quit line invests $1.65 per smoker, compared with the national median of $2.37.⁷
• Arkansas does not have a private insurance mandate provision for quitting tobacco.⁷

Updated June 2023

* The datasets for both adults and youth prevalence were used to make direct comparisons at the state and national levels. National prevalence reported here may differ from what is reported in our national-level fact sheets. The numbers here also reflect the most recent data available. Dates of available data may differ across state fact sheets.

**The seven recommended quitting medications are NRT gum, NRT patch, NRT nasal spray, NRT inhaler, NRT lozenge, Varenicline (Chantix) and Bupropion (Zyban).

Fiore MC, et al. Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence: 2008 Update. Clinical Practice Guideline. Rockville, MD: US Department of Health and Human Services. Public Health Service: May 2008.

References

1.         CDC, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2022.

2.         CDC, Youth Risk Behavioral Surveillance System, 2021.

3.         CDC, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, State Tobacco Activities Tracking and Evaluation System, 2023.

4.         Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Broken Promises to Our Children: a State-by-State Look at the 1998 State Tobacco Settlement 24 Years Later FY2023, 2023.

5.         Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Toll of Tobacco in the United States.

6.         American Lung Association, State Legislated Actions on Tobacco Issues (SLATI).

7.         American Lung Association, State of Tobacco Control, 2023.

8.         Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. State Cigarette Excise Tax Rates & Rankings. https://www.tobaccofreekids.org/assets/factsheets/0097.pdf. Accessed October 4th 2023.

9.         Public Health Law Center. U.S. E-Cigarette Regulation: 50-State Review. http://www.publichealthlawcenter.org/resources/us-e-cigarette-regulations-50-state-review. Accessed October 4th 2023.