Fact Sheet

Tobacco use: Ohio 2026

Topic

Smoking by Region

Subtopic

State Facts

Cigarette use: Ohio*

In 2024, 14.1% of adults smoked. Nationally, the adult cigarette smoking prevalence was 11.6%.
In 2018-2019, 33.8% of adults who smoked in Ohio smoked menthol cigarettes. Nationally, 32.3% of adult smokers used menthol cigarettes during this period.
In 2023, 3.6% of high school students in Ohio 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: Ohio*

In 2024, 9.0% of adults in Ohio used e-cigarettes. Nationally, the adult e-cigarette use prevalence was 8.0%.
In 2024, 4.0% of adults in Ohio used smokeless tobacco every day or some days. Nationally, the adult smokeless tobacco use prevalence was 2.0%.
In 2023, 18.8% 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 16.8%.
In 2023, 2.7% 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 2.3%.
In 2023, 3.9% 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 4.5%.

Economics of tobacco use and tobacco control

Ohio received $997.2 million (estimated) in revenue from tobacco settlement payments and taxes in fiscal year 2026.
Of this, the state allocated $6.0 million in state funds to tobacco prevention in fiscal year 2026, representing 4.5% of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's annual spending target.
Smoking-caused health care costs: $6.56 billion per year.
Smoking-caused losses in productivity: $14.4 billion per year.

Ohio tobacco laws

Tobacco taxes

Ohio is ranked 30th in the U.S. for its cigarette tax of $1.60 per pack (enacted July 2015), compared to the national average of $2.01. New York has the highest tax at $5.35, and Missouri has the lowest at 17 cents.
Little cigars are taxed at 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 multiplied by the vapor volume of the product when delivered to a consumer in Ohio for storage, use, or consumption. All other tobacco products are taxed at 17% of the wholesale price.

Clean indoor air ordinances

Smoking is prohibited in government workplaces, private workplaces, schools, childcare facilities, restaurants, bars, casinos and gaming establishments, and retail stores.
E-cigarettes are included in the state's indoor air laws and the state's definitions of smoking and tobacco products.

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.
A license is 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 for all tobacco products to 21, effective immediately.
Establishments are required to post signs stating that the sale or distribution of tobacco products to people under 21 is prohibited.
People under age 21 are prohibited from buying alternative nicotine products, including e-cigarettes.
Vending machine sales of alternative nicotine products are restricted to locations inaccessible to persons under 21 or under the control of the owner.
The purchase, possession, or use of alternative nicotine products is prohibited for people under age 21 unless they are accompanied by a parent, spouse, or legal guardian who is over age 21.
Employees under 18 years old are prohibited from selling tobacco products.

Local tobacco control laws

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

Quitting statistics and benefits

The CDC estimates that 47.9% of daily adult smokers in Ohio quit smoking for one or more days in 2019.
In 2014, the Affordable Care Act required Medicaid programs to cover all tobacco cessation medications.
Ohio's state quitline invests $1.11 per smoker, compared to the national median of $2.62.
Ohio does not have a private insurance mandate provision for tobacco cessation.

Notes and references (March 2026)

The datasets for both adult 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 national 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 nicotine gum, nicotine patch, nicotine nasal spray, nicotine inhaler, nicotine lozenge, varenicline (Chantix), and bupropion (Zyban).

Fiore MC, et al. Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence: 2008 Update. Clinical Practice Guideline. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service; May 2008.

Sources

CDC. (2024). Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
CDC. (2024). State Menthol Fact Sheets.
CDC. (2023). Youth Risk Behavior 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.
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.
Public Health Law Center. (June 15, 2024). U.S. E-Cigarette Regulations: 50-State Review.
FDA. (2024). Tobacco 21.
Truth Initiative. (June 30, 2024). Local Restrictions on Flavored Tobacco and E-Cigarette Products.
CDC. (2024). Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, State Tobacco Activities Tracking and Evaluation System.