Missourians, see that Slate map above? You might not be able to read it through the haze of cigarette smoke blocking your computer screen. Missourians, you are in rare company. While fewer than 13 percent of Americans smoke every day, you bucked that trend. Missouri is one of five states with the highest percentage of smokers who light up every day (16 percent of you). Missouri is tied for fourth with Indiana but trails Oklahoma, West Virginia and U.S. champion Kentucky.
That number would be higher if it weren't for the over 55 crowd bringing the Show-Me State's average down (only 11 percent of them smoke daily; the other 11 percent are probably dead). Take the 18-to-35 and 36-to-35 demographics: 22 percent of both of them fire up daily.
In Jackson County, Missouri, the number of daily smokers stands at 24 percent. Take that, lungs.
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