Tobacco use in Montana 2023

• In 2022, 15.2% of adults in Montana smoked. Nationally, adult smoking prevalence was 14.0%.1
• In 2021, 7.0% of high school students in Montana 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, 7.6% of adults in Montana used e-cigarettes. Nationally, adult e-cigarette use prevalence was 7.7%1
• In 2022, 7.2% of adults in Montana used smokeless tobacco every day or some days. Nationally, adult smokeless tobacco use prevalence was 3.4%1
• In 2021, 25.5% of high school students in Montana 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%.2
• In 2021, 5.2% of high school students in Montana 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, 4.6% of high school students in Montana 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

• Montana received $101 million (estimated) in revenue from tobacco settlement payments and taxes in fiscal year 2022.4
• Of this, the state allocated $4.9 million in state funds to tobacco prevention in fiscal year 2022, 33.2% of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s annual spending target.4
• Smoking-caused health care costs: $511 million per year.4
• Smoking-caused losses in productivity: $898.6 million per year.5

Tobacco taxes

• Montana is ranked 27th in the U.S. for its cigarette tax of $1.70 per pack (enacted January 2005), compared to 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
• Moist snuff is taxed at 85 cents per ounce and a proportionate rate on all fractional parts of an ounce. All other tobacco products are taxed at 50% of the wholesale price.6,7

Clean indoor air ordinances

• Smoking is prohibited in all government workplaces, private workplaces, schools, childcare facilities, restaurants, bars, casinos/gaming establishments (tribal establishments are exempt), retail stores and recreational/cultural facilities.6,7
• The use of e-cigarettes is prohibited in K-12 schools and in or on public school property.7

Licensing laws

• Retailers and wholesalers are required to obtain a license to sell tobacco products.6
• A license is required 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
• Minors are prohibited from buying or possessing/using vapor products.9

• The CDC estimates 49.5% of daily adult smokers in Montana quit smoking for one or more days in 2019.3
• In 2014, the Affordable Care Act required that Medicaid programs cover all tobacco cessation medications.7**
• The data for Montana’s state quit line invests $4.77 per smoker, compared to the national median of $2.37.7
• Montana does not have a private insurance mandate provision for cessation.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 cessation 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.

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, 2021.

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.