Tobacco use in Oklahoma 2023

• In 2022, 15.6 of adults smoked. Nationally, adult smoking prevalence was 14.0%.¹
• In 2021, 4% of high school students in Oklahoma smoked cigarettes on at least one day in the past 30 days. Nationally, smoking prevalence among high school students was 3.8%.¹

• In 2022, 11.0% of adults in Oklahoma used e-cigarettes. Nationally, adult e-cigarette use prevalence was 7.7%.¹
• In 2022, 5.7% of adults in Oklahoma used smokeless tobacco some days or everyday. Nationally, adult smokeless tobacco use prevalence was 3.4%.¹
• In 2021, 21.7% of high school students in Oklahoma 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, 2.6% of high school students in Oklahoma 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, 2.3% of high school students in Oklahoma 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

• Oklahoma received $523.5 million (estimated) in revenue from tobacco settlement payments and taxes in fiscal year 2023.⁴
• Of this, the state allocated $33 million in state funds to tobacco prevention in fiscal year 2023, 78% of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s annual spending target.⁴
• Smoking-caused health care costs: $1.88 billion per year.⁴
• Smoking-caused losses in productivity: $4.6 billion per year.⁵

Tobacco taxes

• Oklahoma is ranked 18th in the U.S. for its cigarette tax of $2.03 per pack (enacted July 2017), 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
• Chewing tobacco, smokeless tobacco and snuff are taxed at 60% of the factory list price.
• Smoking tobacco is taxed at 80% of the factory list price.
• Little cigars (not weighing more than three pounds per thousand) are taxed at 10.15 cents per cigar and cigars (weighing more than three pounds per thousand) are taxed at 10-12 cents per cigar.^6,7 

Clean indoor air ordinances

• Smoking is prohibited in schools, childcare facilities, retail stores and recreational/cultural facilities.^6,7

• Smoking restrictions are required in government workplaces (prohibited on state government property), private workplaces, restaurants and casinos/gaming establishments (tribal establishments are exempt).^6,7
• There are no smoking restrictions for bars.^6,7
• The use of e-cigarettes is prohibited in or on school property, in school vehicles and at school-sponsored events.⁹
• The use of e-cigarettes is prohibited on properties owned, leased or contracted for use by the state.⁹
• The use of e-cigarettes is prohibited in those parts of the Capitol Building assigned to the House.⁹
• The possession and use of e-cigarettes is prohibited on the grounds of comprehensive community addiction recovery centers, mental illness service programs, gambling treatment programs, community mental health centers, substance related and addictive disorder treatment, and opioid treatment programs.⁹

Licensing laws

• Retailers and wholesalers are required to obtain a license to sell cigarettes. Retailers and wholesalers are not required to obtain a license to sell other tobacco products.⁶
• A license is not 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 of tobacco products to minors is prohibited.⁶
• It is unlawful to sell tobacco products in any manner that allows public access without assistance from a salesperson.⁶
• Minors are prohibited from buying bidis and/or e-cigarettes or any other nicotine or vapor products.^6,9
• The distribution of free nicotine products or vapor products to persons under 21 or on any public street, sidewalk, or park within 300 feet of a facility primarily used by minors (e.g. playgrounds or schools) is prohibited.⁹

• The CDC estimates 51.4% of daily adult smokers in Oklahoma 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**
• Oklahoma’s state quit line invests $11.18 per smoker, compared to the national median of $2.37.⁷
• Oklahoma 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.