Health Disparities
Data indicates that of the main racial/ethnic groups in Arkansas, Hispanics have the lowest level of smokers at 15.6% (2018), compared to 20.8% for Blacks and 23.2% for Whites.
Why Is This Important?
Tobacco use is the most preventable cause of death in Arkansas. It is a leading cause of short life expectancy in the state and is a major contributor to chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, chronic lung disease, and stroke. In addition to this human toll, smoking is estimated to result in $1.3 billion a year in medical treatment and $1.7 billion in lost productivity. While the percentage of adults who say they are smokers has gradually decreased in the last eight years, the 2018 rate of 22.7% is considerably higher than the rate for the U.S. as a whole (13.7%).