Tobacco use in Ohio 2023

• In 2022, 17.1% of adults smoked. Nationally, the adult smoking prevalence was 14.0%.1
• In 2021, 4.9% of high school students in Ohio 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, 8.8% of adults in Ohio used e-cigarettes. Nationally, adult e-cigarette use prevalence was 7.7%.1
• In 2022, 3.7% of adults in Ohio used smokeless tobacco everyday or some days. Nationally, adult smokeless tobacco use prevalence was 3.4%.1
• In 2021, 20.0% of high school students in Ohio used electronic vapor products on at least one day in the past 30 days. Nationally, the e-cigarette use prevalence among high school students was 18%.2
• In 2021, 1.5% of high school students in Ohio used chewing tobacco, snuff or dip on at least one day in the past 30 days. Nationally, the smokeless tobacco use prevalence among high school students was 2.5%.2
• In 2021, 2.6% of high school students in Ohio smoked cigars, cigarillos or little cigars on at least one day in the past 30 days. Nationally, the cigar use prevalence among high school students  was 3.1%.2

• Ohio received $1.2 billion (estimated) in revenue from tobacco settlement payments and taxes in fiscal year 2023.4
• Of this, the state allocated $14.8 million in state funds to tobacco prevention in fiscal year 2023, 11.2% of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s annual spending target.4
• Smoking-caused health care costs: $6.56 billion per year.4
• Smoking-caused losses in productivity: $14.4 billion per year.5

Tobacco taxes

• Ohio is ranked 29th in the U.S. for its cigarette tax of $1.60 per pack (enacted July 2015), 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
• Little cigars are taxed at a rate of 37% of the wholesale price. Premium cigars are taxed at the lesser of 17% of the wholesale price or 50 cents per cigar, plus a specified tax adjustment factor applied annually. Vapor products are taxed at 1 cent x the vapor volume of vapor products when the vapor products are delivered to a consumer in this state for the storage, use, or other consumption. All other tobacco products are taxed at a rate of 17% of the wholesale price.6,7

Clean indoor air ordinances

• Smoking is prohibited in government workplaces, private workplaces, schools, childcare facilities, restaurants, bars, casinos/gaming establishments, retail stores and recreational/cultural facilities.6,7
• E-cigarettes are included in the state’s definition of smoking.7

Licensing laws

• Retailers are required to obtain a license to sell cigarettes but are not required to obtain a license to sell other tobacco products. 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 the sale or distribution of tobacco products to minors is prohibited.6
• Minors are prohibited from buying alternative nicotine products, including e-cigarettes.6
• Vending machine sales of alternative nicotine products is restricted to locations inaccessible to persons under 21 or under control of the owner.9

Local tobacco control laws

• Bexley prohibits the sale of all flavored tobacco products. Columbus prohibits the sale of all flavored tobacco products, except hookah.10
• Toledo prohibits the sale of flavored vaping products.10

• The CDC estimates 47.9% of daily adult smokers in Ohio 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**
• Ohio’s state quit line invests $2.09 per smoker, compared to the national median of $2.37.7
• Ohio 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.

10.       Truth Initiative, Local restrictions on flavored tobacco and e-cigarette products. https://truthinitiative.org/research-resources/emerging-tobacco-products/local-restrictions-flavored-tobacco-and-e-cigarette. Accessed October 4th, 2023.