Smoking Habit is Still a Health Concern

This information is extrapolated from a recent study by the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index. According to The Dayton Daily News this new study finds more than one in every four Ohioans smoke cigarettes. Ohio has one of the highest rates in the nation. The report did not give any information relative to smoking as it applies to gender, ethnic groups or age. Additionally, the report states that approximately 26% of all Ohioans smoked cigarettes in 2011, matching the rates of Missouri, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas. Accordingly, Kentucky is the only state with a higher smoking rate than Ohio It has a smoking rate of 29%. This means the residents of Kentucky are lighting up. Sometime back, at least Northern Kentucky was pushing a comprehensive smoking ban in that state. However, it was overturned by the voters. With a 29% smoking population it is understandable why a smoking ban failed in Kentucky. Amongst these states, Ohio is the only state with a comprehensive smoking ban and a rate above 25%. According to officials with the Ohio Health Department said their own survey found that 22% of Ohioans smoked in 2010. They continued to say, “Smoking is a huge health concern and the percent of smokers in the State of Ohio is certainly not decreasing.” Also, maybe and just maybe the residents of Ohio and Kentucky still may not be very health conscious, especially those who smokes.