Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Vol. 58, No. 09, (released 13 March 2009).

A new statistical abstract from the U.S. Census Bureau reports the percentage of adult population who smoke in each state. Despite significant attention to anti-smoking campaigns funded by class action tobacco litigation awards the numbers have barely budged over the last five years.

However, Wyoming and New Mexico, which have the highest rate of smoking in the region, are demonstrating slight decreases in the percentage of adult smokers. The numbers have declined from 22.1 and 20.8 percent, respectively, in 2007 from 24.6 and 22.0 percent in 2003.