Kentuckians are some of the most likely to vape, a study says. Another shows they're eager to quit
Smoking is a pretty tough habit to stomp out, especially with the increasingly popular e-cigarettes, or vapes, being passed around by younger demographics.
And in Kentucky, e-cigarette usage is through the roof, despite a recent study indicating it's one of the top states for people who want to quit.
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How likely are Kentuckians to use vaping products?
Kentucky ranked No. 1, tied with Oklahoma, for the state with the highest number of adults using e-cigarettes daily. Furthermore, between 2016 and 2022, Kentuckians had a 4.9 percentage point increase in vaping usage, while the national average only increased by 3.1%. Out of a 100 point scale, Kentucky scored 98.88 for e-cigarette data, with Tennessee scoring 100.
According to the article from Forbes, the use of regular cigarette products is still greater than the usage of vapes, but an increase in e-cigarette usage are specifically prominent in youth and young adults. Especially members of Gen Z, between the ages of 18 and 24.
Forbes Advisor reported that Kentucky ranked No. 2 for an increase in vaping over the past six years, trailing closely behind Tennessee as No. 1.
Kentuckians are trying to quit
Kentucky may be off the charts in vape usage, but another report shows the state is one of the most eager to quit.
And according to a news release from Snusboss, Kentucky is the No. 3 state eager to quit vaping, with a score of 75.25 out of 100. The organization analyzed Google data to calculate interest in terms related to quitting vaping. Kentucky scored an 80 for “stop vaping,” an 84 for “quit vaping,” and a 78 for “popcorn lung.”
A spokesperson for Snusboss said, "With the popularity of vaping at an all-time high worldwide, it is interesting to discover the states that are most eager to quit the habit, perhaps as a New Year's Resolution. The findings reveal that people want to inform themselves about the side effects of vaping, such as popcorn lungs, to learn more about the harms of this activity and potentially shift to vaping alternatives or quit altogether."
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What other states vape the most?
The two states wanting to quit vaping even more than Kentucky are Mississippi and Arkansas, according to the report.
As stated by Forbes, seven of the top ten states known for vaping are located in the South. These include Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Tennessee and West Virginia. Yet, some of these very locations desire knocking out the habit.
What states vape the most? Tennessee leads the way and so does the South
The top six states most eager to quit vaping include Mississippi, Arkansas, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Michigan and Alabama, as reported by Snusboss.
Get help quitting smoking
For those looking to quit smoking in the local area, Quit Now Kentucky offers confidential, individual coaching for Kentuckians hoping to stop the use of tobacco products, including cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars, dip and more. For more information on quitting tobacco, visit Kentucky.gov, linked here.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky among residents most likely to vape, but also eager to quit
