Fact Sheet

Tobacco use: West Virginia 2026

Topic

Smoking by Region

Subtopic

State Facts

Cigarette use: West Virginia*

In 2024, 20.4% of adults smoked. Nationally, the adult cigarette smoking prevalence was 11.6%.
In 2018-2019, 26.3% of adults who smoked in West Virginia smoked menthol cigarettes. Nationally, 32.3% of adult smokers used menthol cigarettes during this period.
In 2023, 6.7% of high school students in West Virginia smoked cigarettes on at least one day in the past 30 days. Nationally, the cigarette smoking prevalence among high school students was 3.5%.

Other tobacco product use: West Virginia

In 2024, 20.4% of adults smoked. Nationally, the adult cigarette smoking prevalence was 11.6%.
In 2018-2019, 26.3% of adults who smoked in West Virginia smoked menthol cigarettes. Nationally, 32.3% of adult smokers used menthol cigarettes during this period.
In 2023, 6.7% of high school students in West Virginia smoked cigarettes on at least one day in the past 30 days. Nationally, the cigarette smoking prevalence among high school students was 3.5%.

Economics of tobacco use and tobacco control

West Virginia received $184.5 million (estimated) in revenue from tobacco settlement payments and taxes in fiscal year 2026.
Of this, the state allocated $306,210 in state funds to tobacco prevention in fiscal year 2026, which is 1.1% of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's annual spending target.
Smoking-caused health care costs: $1.17 billion per year.
Smoking-caused losses in productivity: $2.4 billion per year.

West Virginia tobacco laws

Tobacco taxes

West Virginia is ranked 36th in the U.S. for its cigarette tax of $1.20 per pack (enacted July 2016), compared to the national average of $2.05. (New York has the highest tax at $5.35 and Missouri has the lowest at 17 cents.)
E-cigarette liquid is taxed at 7.5 cents per milliliter.
All other tobacco products are taxed at 12% of the wholesale price.

Clean indoor air ordinances

Smoking is prohibited in public schools only.
Smoking restrictions are required in government workplaces and childcare facilities.
There are no smoking restrictions in private workplaces, restaurants, bars, casinos/gaming establishments, health care facilities, or retail stores.
E-cigarette use is prohibited in schools and on school grounds except those areas not used for instructional purposes and inaccessible to students. It is also prohibited in state-owned vehicles.
E-cigarettes are not included in the state's indoor air laws (except in most parts of K-12 schools and school property) but are included in the state's definition of tobacco products.

Licensing laws

Retailers and wholesalers are required to obtain a license to sell tobacco products.
A license is not required to sell e-cigarette products.

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.
People under 21 are prohibited from buying vapor products.
Vending machine sales of vapor products are restricted to places inaccessible to persons under 18.

Local tobacco laws

Charleston prohibits new establishments that devote 33% of their floor area to the space and display of e-cigarettes and tobacco products from being within 1,500 feet of another vape/smoke shop or elementary, middle, or high school.

Quitting statistics and benefits

The CDC estimates 47.0% of daily adult smokers in West Virginia quit smoking for one or more days in 2019.
In 2014, the Affordable Care Act required that Medicaid programs cover all tobacco cessation medications.**
West Virginia's state quit line invests $0.83 per smoker, compared to the national median of $2.62.
West Virginia does not have a private insurance mandate provision for cessation.

Notes and references

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.

CDC. (2024). Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
CDC. (2024). State Menthol Fact Sheets.
CDC. (2023). Youth Risk Behavioral Surveillance System.
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. (2026). Broken Promises to Our Children: A State-by-State Look at the 1998 State Tobacco Settlement 24 Years Later FY2024.
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. (2024). The Toll of Tobacco in the United States.
American Lung Association. (2026). State Legislated Actions on Tobacco Issues (SLATI).
American Lung Association. (2026). State of Tobacco Control.
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. (June 14, 2024). State Cigarette Excise Tax Rates & Rankings.
https://assets.tobaccofreekids.org/factsheets/0097.pdf
Public Health Law Center. (June 15, 2024). U.S. E-Cigarette Regulations: 50 State Review.
https://www.publichealthlawcenter.org/resources/us-e-cigarette-regulations-50-state-review
FDA. (2024). Tobacco 21.
https://www.fda.gov/tobacco-products/retail-sales-tobacco-products/tobacco-21
Truth Initiative. (June 30, 2024). Local Restrictions on Flavored Tobacco and E-Cigarette Products.
https://truthinitiative.org/research-resources/emerging-tobacco-products/local-restrictions-flavored-tobacco-and-e-cigarette
CDC. (2024). Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, State Tobacco Activities Tracking and Evaluation System.