Louisiana is ranked 39 out of 50 states for smoking (America’s Health Rankings 2021).  An estimated 18.3% of Louisiana adults currently smoke cigarettes.

Louisiana Statistics from Smoking:

• 7,200 Louisiana adults die annually from smoking.
• Smoking causes about 9 out of 10 of all lung cancer deaths and 8 out of 10 of all deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
• Lung cancer is the deadliest cancer in Louisiana, causing almost one-third of the cancer deaths in Louisiana.
• In Louisiana, 39% of adults who have been told they have COPD, emphysema and chronic bronchitis smoke cigarettes.
• Smokers are more likely than nonsmokers to develop heart disease, stroke and lung cancer.
• Cigarette smoking is responsible for more than 480,000 deaths per year in the U.S., including more than 41,000 deaths resulting from secondhand smoke. This is about 1 in 5 deaths annually, or 1,300 smokers every day.
• On average, smokers die 10 years earlier than non-smokers.

Source: Louisiana Department of Health
https://ldh.la.gov/news/6420

---

Louisiana earns mostly failing grades
for its efforts to reduce and prevent tobacco use.

Tobacco use remains the leading cause of cancer and cancer-related deaths.  The goal of the LA-TCI is to reduce the burden of tobacco use in Louisiana by conducting evidence-based and meaningful research to improve population health.